Description
This project seeks to increase the quality and the volume of student and teaching staff mobility between the partner institutions in the thematic area of political science, public administration and sociology. Staff and student mobility will result in long term impact on both sides via: -Development of joint study courses; -Curriculum development for joint study programme and life-long learning modules; -Joint research activities. These results will achieved based on joint interests of partners, their cooperation experience and will to deepen cooperation with future sustainable effects for all partners. The main sustainable benefits will deal with internationalization of studies, capacity building and development of joint Baltic Sea research area. Project will enable a staff and student mobility resulting in the number of products: The online courses offered at e-platform, a joint study programme and/or joint study courses, and integrated inter-disciplinary programmes; improved staff work quality and the development and improvement of teaching skills of the PhD students. It will expand the existing relationship between higher education institutions in Latvia and Norway to include high-grade research and teaching and achieving a higher level of internationalisation in partner institutions.It is vital to note that research collaboration within the framework of this Project will provide younger researchers with an excellent opportunity to work side by side with more experienced colleagues from the two countries, which will further contribute to the transfer of knowledge in synergy with research activity which foreseen to establish teaching assistant programme. Younger researchers will benefit from the Scholarship activity enabling them to spend extended time at partner institutions and to accumulate teaching and researching skills.
Summary of project results
The overall goal of the Project is to increase the teaching and research capacity in institutions of higher education in Latvia and Norway. This project seeks to increase the quality and the volume of student and teaching staff mobility between the partner institutions in the thematic area of political science, public administration and sociology. During the project, results were achieved: - Mobility of students and staff between partner universities were conducted. In total, 32 professors and 8 students were involved in mobility. - The international symposium “Urban governance in Europe: Preparing for diversity, social sustainability and migration”, was held in Oslo, September 28-30, 2016 with participation of teachers from the partner universities. The symposium provided wide academic debate on various topics covered during mobility visits. - As a result of the symposium, the call for papers to Special Issue of “Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration” was announced for participants of the symposium and wider public. The guest editors represents partner universities of the project: Åge Johnsen/Monica Kjørstad (Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences), Iveta Reinholde (University of Latvia, Riga), and Margarita Barañano (Complutense University of Madrid). It is expected that special issue will be published by December 2017 since by May 2017 all submitted papers were reviewed by blind review. - During the project there were several workshops and seminars intended to spread knowledge accumulated during mobility. There were workshops on game theory for young professionals and on EU Global strategy. The workshop for secondary schools in Latvia – “Novadu spēles” was organized in order to spread the results of mobility to Latvian schools in the interactive and creative way. - The valuable research design seminar and individual consultations for PhD students of University of Latvia were delivered by professors from Oslo and Akerhus University College.
Summary of bilateral results
It was expected, that staff and student mobility will result in long term impact on both sides like development of joint study courses; curriculum development for joint study programme and life-long learning modules as well as joint research activities. To strengthen and to expand synergy and cooperation among Latvia and Norway, the mobility programme covered such an issues like Baltic Sea Area, Arctic Region, public administration, policy analysis, human security, social welfare programmes, urban-rural relations, regional development. The project created basis of knowledge and experience in order to establish a stable international basis for programmes of excellence that are envisaged for especially well-prepared and motivated applicants and students. It is vital to note that research collaboration within the framework of this Project provided younger researchers with an excellent opportunity to work side by side with more experienced colleagues from the two countries, which will further contribute to the transfer of knowledge.