Education towards research and innovation development

Project facts

Project promoter:
Cracow University of Economics
Project Number:
PL10-0022
Target groups
Students
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€238,031
Final project cost:
€217,630
From Norway Grants:
€ 176,280
The project is carried out in:
Małopolskie

Description

The current curricula and courses offered by Polish universities does not perfectly fit the labour market requirements or country and EU innovation aspirations. Programs related to R&D project management and technology transfer are not currently offered at higher education institutions, but rather offered only in the form of post-graduate programs and trainings. Thanks to the cooperation of key institutions from Poland and Norway, this project focus on the development of an innovative curriculum of a new specialization of MA studies,which will correspond to these needs. It will facilitate training of the teaching staff and development of educational tools and materials necessary to implement the program in 5 Polish universities. The donor partner will assist Cracow University of Economics in the bench-marking of Norwegian universities and will organize a visit for the Polish delegation, as well as participate in the elaboration of a study program in Poland, in the staff training and elaboration of educational material and handbooks, organize study tour and moderate one workshop for consortium members in relation to technology transfer activity.

Summary of project results

The main project objective was the enhancement of teaching and organizational capacities of 5 Polish universities towards labour market needs and knowledge-based economy. This objective was reached through the development of study programs at MA-level specialization in R&D project management, development of organizational capacities to implement the innovative specialization, staff trainings and elaboration of teaching tools, methods and materials, offering education in English, collaboration with Norwegian universities, and finally elaboration of a strategy for research development. The project has produced a final report that compares the results of market analysis with recommendations for a new specialization to curriculum development. Moreover, the project has led to the creation of textbooks, case studies, methodologies and didactic tolls that can be used in the new MA specialization programme. The cooperation with the partners enabled the sharing of experiences and best practices on a national and international level, and identified common research areas for future cooperation (an exchange of researchers is being planned). The partners have proven themselves as trustworthy and willing to cooperate in future projects. Thanks to the project, a modern specialization was introduced into the educational offer. This specialization corresponds to the expectations of the market and is therefore attractive for students entering the labour market.

Summary of bilateral results

The Norwegian partner's input to the project consisted of their experience in project management, experience and best practices on international cooperation, and sharing of good practices (which aided in development of curriculum, cooperation strategies, case studies). The project has led to the identification of common research areas and an exchange of researchers is planned to start. Other Polish partners shared their experience in the development of curricula, organization of co-operation, experience in teaching. The Association "Education for Entrepreneurship" provided experience in the organization of meetings, workshops, promotion and experience in supporting cooperation between science and business, and project management. National Contact Point acted as an expert in the field of project management, organization, cooperation, strategies of national and international cooperation. Partnership offered the opportunity to exchange experience, various opinions, was the source of best practices, good examples, various points of view. Examples and recommendations for the organization of collaboration and the strategy for research development, information for the textbook was given from the University of Stavanger and NCP. The collaboration strategy was elaborated, the identification of common research field was made, the actions towards researchers exchange were started.