Description
A comprehensive and multidisciplinary university, West University of Timisoara aims to increase its international cooperation potential in a higher education national and international academic community facing globalization. Being a case study for good practices in the first governmental project dedicated specifically to the internationalization of higher education in Romania, West University of Timisoara aims to focus its’ efforts for internationalization outside the well-known borders set up by the Erasmus programme and develop its human and knowledge capital through the establishment of new avenues for cooperation. Thus, by organizing and developing the existing mobility flows for students and staff with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein through the EEA Grants Programme, West University of Timisoara hopes to accomplish this objective in a manner that is building on the years’ long experience with the Erasmus programme, while going beyond its limits. The mobility grants financed through the EEA programme aim to foster stronger academic ties between not only West University of Timisoara and higher education institutions from donor countries, but also between Romania and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Summary of project results
The project was needed in order to ensure the development of cooperation avenues with higher education institutions in the three donor states, as this matter is included in the objectives of West University of Timisoara's strategy for internationalization. This was meant to become the framework for developing future cooperations. The results will be sustained through similar mobility schemes and institutional funding. The objective of the project was to set up a mobility framework for students and staff at West University of Timisoara and its' partner institutions. The objective was reached partially on the fact that the number of outgoing mobilities for studies was doubled compared to last year. The impact of the mobilities consisted of an increase in interest and applications for mobilities funded through the EEA Grants scheme at both student and staff levels, as well as a development of cooperations between our institution and institutions in donor countries. The outcome of the project consisted of 5 outgoing mobilities for studies, 6 outgoing mobilities for teaching and 3 outgoing mobility for training and for the first time - 1 incoming mobility for teaching. Presentations of the programme and beneficiaries' experiences and acquired expertise.The beneficiaries are involved in assessing the quality and promotion of the programme. It sets up the basis for cooperation with HEIs in donor states.
Summary of bilateral results
Donor states HEI's contributed to the project through institutional (academic and administrative) support for outgoing mobilities from West University of Timisoara. The partnerships between West University of Timisoara and the Norwegian HEI's achieved student and staff mobilities as outputs, as per the objectives of the application. For West University of Timisoara the partnerships financed through the EEA Grants programme have materialized into the only type of cooperation with Norwegian institutions, which has, thus, contributed extensively to considering Norway an active partner country and has offered opportunities for knowledge and practice transfer between institutions from the two countries on the long term. As students and staff involved in the mobilities have contributed extensively to promoting and supporting the EEA Grants programme at our university, knowledge and experience sharing activities have allowed the West University of Timisoara community to get acquainted with Norwegian HEI's (MF Norwegian School of Theology, Ostfold University College, University of Agder, University of Oslo) academic culture and good practices, especially in the field of mobilities.