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Description
The main goal of the project is to get to know and to transfer the good case practices from Norway to Slovenia developing skills in education in area of gerontology and physiotherapy. Alma Mater strives for improvement of HE in the region and offers high quality study programmes and cooperates with different universities. The delivery of quality study programmes demands continuing exchange of knowledge with other countries that is why our students, professors, researchers and other staff attend international conferences and mobility programmes. Norway has been leading country in area of working with older people, while in Slovenia it still unregulated, therefore our goal is to bring good practices in area of education of social gerontology and physiotherapy to our country. That is why Alma Mater will closely work with Ostfold University College, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences and Glenne regional center for Autism in order to organise staff mobilities. Such project will strengthen our interdisciplinary operation because we want to build a strong network of Norwegian partner institutions. It will also strengthen our research work and development of innovative models and approaches to teaching and training.
Summary of project results
AMEU is a relatively young private HEI institution from NE Slovenia. Since its establishment in 2007, we have dedicated our activities to international cooperation. Our main focus: health studies and social issues; all topics that are really well developed in Norway. The wish for exchange was to obtain best practices from Norway and transfer them to the Slovene environment and its implementation in our curriculum. The impact: one new subject across study fields (social gerontology, management and health sciences), based on best practices from a Norwegian College; 3 new specialization programme proposals (health sciences and social gerontology), based on the visit of 2 professors to a Norwegian Autism center; and 3 new elective subjects that will be offered in our major study field: Health sciences. Outputs: 4 new elective subjects within existing programmes and three new short-course (specialization) programmes that will be submitted to the National Accreditation agency for approval in September 2016. Beneficiaries: professors from AMEU who will transfer the knowledge to students of AMEU Main benefit: new and modern study contents for Slovene students.
Summary of bilateral results
The donor’s contribution (Norway grants) was financial. The partnership enhanced ties with the Norwegian institutions; best practices were shared among the Slovene and Norwegian institution and different approaches to handling similar things were discussed. Also, the Slovene representatives visiting Norway had a great opportunity to see advanced methods and approaches especially in the work with autistic children and adults, and athletes with disabilities. The area of autism: benefits for both parties; the visiting one and the hosts. People with disabilities: best practices will be transferred to Slovenia to be included into the study programme and some professional approaches in the practical environment (one of AMEU teachers being a mentor/trainer/coach/physiotherapist and advisor to athletes with disabilities). Wider effects: joint approach of AMEU and one of the Norwegian host institutions toward teaching and training families of autistic children/adults (special courses and workshops planned in Slovenia with help of Norwegian specialists); involving Norwegian teachers into the curriculum when teaching intercultural communication; Special sections (3) of the annual international AMEU conference dedicated to autism, intercultural communication and physiotherapy for people with disabilities (athletes,…) – members of professional public will be invited to the conference and additional workshops/symposia, organised by AMEU during the coming academic year. Furthermore, the general public will be invited to participate at workshops and symposia, tackling some of the issues, transferred to Slovenia from Norway as best practices (especially in the field of social gerontology and autism). Effects are long-lasting, beneficial to different stakeholders. We hope to be able to follow-up on this initiated activities with further exchange to Norway, to the same institutions, not only because of enabling sustainable cooperation and development but also to strengthen professional ties with Norwegian institutions.