Description
Nature conservation in high mountain ecosystems presents serious challenge as they are fragile and highly exposed to contamination from human activities. In addition to this problem, there is also the issue of ongoing climatic change and its impact on these precious ecosystems. The aim of the project is to use scientific knowledge of the Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina and its experience in teaching courses about nature conservation in cooperation with its partner institution Telemark University College in Norway in order to organize two summer schools dedicated to Alpine Ecology in Lichtenstein and Iceland for students and to create on-line database for purpose of e-learning. Mobility of academics in the project will permit to confront different approaches of teaching and will likely expand knowledge on the matter of nature conservation in Norway, Slovakia, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Study trips will provide students with valuable experience of working in a different environment. The donor partner, Telemark University College, is an equal partner participating in all project activities. The partnership will have a significant impact regarding innovative forms of educational programs in foreign languages in Slovakia and Norway. This project will support the launch of a joint master degree program "Alpine ecology" between Institute of High Mountain Biology and Telemark University College.
Summary of project results
Objective of the project was to support cooperation of Institute of High Mountain Biology of University of Žilina in Tatranská Javorina and University College of Southeast Norway in launching of the new joint master degree program “Alpine Ecology”. Secondly, it was needed to enrich the teaching process of both institutions. The aim and main outcomes of the project were two summer schools of Alpine Ecology, in Iceland and in Liechtenstein, involving mobility of 20 Slovak and 20 Norwegian students and 12 academics from participating institutions. The other outcome was to create an eLearning database with the videos from the teaching at summer schools. Summer schools gave an opportunity to the students to educate themselves abroad and acquire valuable knowledge in their field of study from international experts and academics. Academics had opportunity to cooperate with colleagues from foreign country, compare their knowledge and methods of teaching.
Summary of bilateral results
Donor project partner was equal partner involved in all project activities. Project partner provided skilled academics for the teaching at summer schools and showed high degree of competence in organizing the summer school in Iceland.Partnership achieved great amount of experience in mutual cooperation in realization of summer schools. Students also had an opportunity to communicate and cooperate in the international milieu, which is very desirable but not easily obtained experience. We believe that our teaching gained quality by this project and that they will become better professionals.We have a proposition for cooperation with Peter Droege from Liechtenstein University, new fruitful relations in Mývatn Research center in Iceland and Seal center in Hvammstangi in Iceland.