Description
Mobility as the key dimension of the Bologna Process is increasingly recognised as an important criteria in the evaluation of quality of education and an important tool for improving teachers and graduates´ skills and employability in a competitive global environment. Internationalisation of education and mobility play important role in all EU, state and College policies. The main needs addressed with the project at the institutional level are to promote and support cooperation between Estonian and Norwegian higher education institutions; and at the individual level to raise the level of professional skills and competence of students and teachers of participating institutions. Both our nursing and occupational therapy students are interested in the international study module "International Public Health" provided by Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Our college does not have study programmes or study modules in English yet, but what we can offer is traineeship possibilities all over Estonia. The main objectives and expected outcomes are for teachers to acquire knowledge, specific experiences and good practices as well as practical skills relevant for their specialty and their professional development; exchange views on teaching content, develop new approaches and teaching methods in an international environment. The international experience gives students valuable skills and experiences that help them to develop. Students can build an international network of friends that will be a cornerstone of their future professional network; enhanced cooperation and networking between higher education institutions in Norway and Estonia.
Summary of project results
While project gave us valuable experiences, it unfortunately made us realize that Nordic countries are not interested in simple mobility activities with Estonian higher education institutions. To attract the attention and raise interest in Nordic countries we should have more to offer - for example study programmes in English, research and/or development project ideas, intensive courses, innovative IT solutions etc. The planned project seemed really promising in the beginning. Both our nursing and occupational therapy students were interested in the international study module "International Public Health" provided by Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Our college does not have study programmes or study modules in English yet, but what we can offer is traineeship possibilities all over Estonia. Unfortunately, in 2015/2016 big internal changes occurred in the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. As a result of these changes the international study module "International Public Health" our students were interested - which had always been in the academic schedule both on autumn and spring semester - now became restricted. Our students´ main problem with restricting their possibilities for mobility was that the health care and welfare curricula are very strictly regulated. A student has to pass certain subjects and traineeships in a certain sequence to get to the next course. Our students were planning to take the international study module "International Public Health" provided by Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences in spring semester, but they could certainly not participate in the module on autumn semester. We tried to discuss with our partner, if there could be some other possibility, but the answer was just "take it or leave it". For other students the university college find any other options, except this only study module in autumn semester 2015. We also tried in all ways to attract Norwegian students and teachers: we offered them grants, sent promotion materials, leaflets and application information together with practical information to Oslo several times. Still, nobody was interested in an exchange period in Estonia. We were really sorry that the project failed, but at least we gained some valuable experiences that we can benefit from in the future. During this project one mobility only took place.
Summary of bilateral results
The first contacts were quite promising. During the preparatory visit to Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences 14.-16.01.2015 both sides showed interest for cooperation. Although the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences was more interested in joint student research papers and and scientific conferences already during the negotiation process, we saw perspective for cooperation. The first difficulties arose from internal changes that were started in the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences in 2015. The process was started to become a full university and there were many structural and academic changes. The international study module "International Public Health" our students were interested in, and that was always offered both on autumn and spring semester, now became available only in the autumn semester 2015 - and our nursing and occupational therapy students would only have been able to participate in the spring semester. The other difficulty we did not expect or foresee was the low interest towards traineeship or teaching in Estonia.