How to manage mobility programs

Elena GolishevaAlexander Nikiforov

Realization of FASTQUAD

Collaboration of the participants

On the regional Russian level (Finec, NSTU, USTU, SUSES)

Pan-european, international level (UPMF, SUAS, TU Cluj-Napoca, U of Alicante)

Exchanging experience in different areas of professional knowledge

(technical plus economical knowledge)

Monitoring of national educational systems

(finding out their specific traits and mutual adaptaion)

Realization of FASTQUAD

• Organization of scientific conferences, seminars, round tables– Finec: 26. March 2009– Day of international education: promotion of

European education– “International Semester at Finec” – for bachelors and masters

• Summarizing and comparison of the universities’ academic experience

• Elaboration of a common strategy and concrete practical guidelines for the further development of educational mobility

Mobility in practice

• Three groups involved:1. Students2. Universities3. Enterprises

Mobility tasks for students

• Gaining interdisciplinary knowledge• Getting specific knowledge• Getting to know new scientific and

educational traditions• Learning new cultures• Search for better study or working

conditions

Mobility tasks for the universities

• Rising quality of education by sharing best practices• Rising competitiveness in educational area• Increase of investment attractiveness due to growing

competitiveness and competence of graduates• Rising professional qualification of the teaching staff

on the basis of the foreign partners’ experience and their motivation for better quality of work

• Development of the international relationships

Mobility tasks for enterprises

• Possibility to choose from a wider range of candidates (especially among the students, who are about to graduate soon)

• Mobility program development results in the development of personal and professional competences

• Rising qualification of a potential employee

Practical issues of mobility

• Choosing partners – Correlation of curriculums– Providing language competencies– Providing adaptation program– Providing dormitory accommodation

Practical issues of mobility

• Exchange conditions– Mutual accommodation provision, no tuition fees for

students

• Responsibility– Informational flow between partner universities

(curricula, examination rules, evaluation)

• Personnel– International mobility coordinator should not be

involved in teaching to be objective

Practical issues of mobility

• Choosing criteria for students– Study performance (GPA 4,5)– Foreign language competence (proved by a

certificate)– Social activities and achievements

• Consultancy– Students are provided with info on the

university

Practical issues of mobility

• Reporting– Students have to submit reports on their

internships, which are used for improvements

• Supervision/support– Tutors are usually students of the student

organizations and volunteers

Recommendations

• Challenges of mobility for students– Lack of motivation due to high costs and challenges– Insufficient language skills– No mutual recognition of subjects

• Possible solutions:– Use of “word of mouth” promotion among students– Motivation to learn languages– Use of ECTS system, clear transfer system

Development perspectives

• Improving quality of mobility service– Rising intensity of cooperation between

universities– Stimulating student motivation

• Encouraging academic compatibility• Harmonization of regulations in

educational sphere• Coordination of International offices’

activities in consortium framework