More information
Description
The project allows for increased mobility in higher education between one university in Poland and four in Norway and Iceland in the scope of:
a. Student mobility:
• Outgoing mobilities of Polish students to Donor States and incoming mobilities of students from the Donor States for study periods lasting from 3 to 12 months within an academic year.
• Outgoing mobilities of Polish students to Donor States and incoming mobilities of students from the Donor States for work placements from lasting from 2 to 12 months within an academic year.
b. Staff mobility:
• Teaching assignment-based mobilities of academic teachers between Poland and the Donor States for a period of between one day and six weeks, a minimum of eight hours of teaching at the partner institution must be provided during one week of mobility.
• Higher education staff mobility between Poland and the Donor States for job shadowing, participation in seminars, training, workshops and conferences aimed at improving skills and expanding knowledge in a given field for a period of between one day and six weeks.
Summary of project results
The Education Programme made it possible to expand the mobility offer to include staff mobility for training and staff mobility for teaching purposes in partner institutions located in the Donor States, i.e. Norway and Iceland. The Education Programme implemented at the Jagiellonian University for the second time, fits very well into the implementation of the Jagiellonian University''s internationalization strategy and undoubtedly contributed to the increased visibility of the Jagiellonian University on the international arena. The participation of employees in mobilities to prestigious foreign scientific institutions directly affects the strengthening of multilingualism and increasing the level of internationalization of the Jagiellonian University, as well as all units involved in cooperation. The primary goal of this project, as well as other mobility projects implemented at the Jagiellonian University, is to maintain high academic standards, facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices, optimal development of science, raising the level of teaching and services provided by the Jagiellonian University. The implementation of the project significantly improved the quality and methodology of teaching and increased scientific and professional competences. Project participants gained the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in an international scientific environment, as well as strengthen scientific contacts. The implementation of the project was therefore included not only in the system of strategic activities for the internationalization of higher education, but also in the system of pro-quality goals, i.e. acquiring new knowledge and skills, obtaining information on innovative teaching methods and methodologies, scientific and administrative work, improving language competences and understanding and deepening knowledge about cultural differences. During their stay at the partner university, in addition to conducting classes with students, academic staff had the opportunity to learn about the teaching process, gain experience in educating students in an intercultural environment, and develop new teaching methods.
A total of 21 of the planned 40 mobilities were carried out under the programme (changes in the project regarding quantitative indicators are described later in the report). 16 participants went to the Donor States: 4 academic staff went on a mobility for teaching purposes, the remaining participants went on training mobilities. The project promoter welcomed 5 participants from the Donor States at the Jagiellonian University.
Despite the fact that the quantitative goals of the project were not achieved, the qualitative goals were fully achieved, and we consider the implementation of the project at the Jagiellonian University to be a great success. At the University level, awareness of cooperation with Donor Countries, internationally known entities conducting research and teaching at a very high level, has increased. Cooperation with foreign units resulted in closer contacts and the establishment of new partnerships, the activities of which are still carried out as part of other projects. Based on the information provided by the project participants, we are convinced of the purposefulness of the project and the constant demand for this type of initiatives. The activities allowed participants to expand their practical knowledge and establish scientific contacts. The implementation of the project not only contributed to achieving benefits for people directly participating in the exchange, but also translated into deepening the internationalization process, functioning of the Jagiellonian University and foreign universities involved in the project. Undoubtedly, the development and implementation of new mobility management procedures during crisis situations also became an added value.
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation within the project contributed to strengthening bilateral relations with all universities from the Donor States participating in the project. Polish staff, in addition to gaining specialist knowledge and improving their management, scientific, research and teaching competences, had the opportunity to establish cooperation with staff from foreign institutions. One of the important consequences of the mutual visit of the faculty members of the Jagiellonian University Faculty of Philosophy and academic teachers of the Faculty of Humanities and Education Volda was the establishment of cooperation at the faculty level under the Erasmus+ Program. Frequent contacts between administrative staff of the Jagiellonian University and administrative staff of partner universities related to project management contributed to a better understanding of the methods and style of managing staff mobilities in Scandinavian universities and vice versa, which certainly had a positive impact on the quality of mobility project management in the universities participating in the project. Staff members who carried out training mobilities had the opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices within their responsibilities. For the academic teachers the teaching mobilities were an opportunity to verify the teaching methods used in a foreign and international environment. The Education Program was perceived by all parties to the project as an opportunity to strengthen and expand cooperation, both in terms of exchange of students and academic and administrative staff. The cooperation carried out within the project has a positive impact on strengthening international cooperation, as well as the visibility of partner universities in Poland and strengthening the image of the Program in Poland and abroad. Cooperation with universities from the Donor States will be continued within subsequent mobility projects.