Erasmus+ academic mobility as a tool to develop international cooperation
In June 2023 Dinara Saliyeva, Senior Lecturer of the Foreign Languages Department – coordinator for international cooperation of the Faculty of International Relations, visited the University of Maribor (Slovenia) under the Erasmus+ academic mobility project.
Overall objectives of the mobility: Participation in Staff Training Week at the University of Maribor. Gaining new knowledge about the Erasmus+ programme 2021 - 2027 and establishing new cooperation with the partner and other foreign universities. Cooperating on the field of international exchange for supporting the professional development of HEI academic and non-academic staff as well as students.
Added value of the mobility (in the context of the modernisation and internationalisation strategies of the institutions involved): New connections and networking between higher educational institutions for further successful implementation of staff and student mobility and consequently potential international research and projects. Presentation of new content, methods, practical skills and gathered new knowledge, implication of the best practices from UM and vice versa. Promotion of KA171 programme for Erasmus exchange for students and academics and presentation of KA171 possibilities. Learn about new Erasmus+ programme and its horizontal priorities for better promotion, and afterwards also dissemination and sustainability of results. To enable exchanging content, certain practical knowledge, form experience, best practice from abroad and as well practical skills relevant to the current work and professional development.
The geography of mobility participants was extensive. Among the participants were representatives of higher educational institutions from Kazakhstan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Egypt, China, Serbia, Senegal, and Ukraine.
The Staff Training Week programme included: Prof. dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of University of Maribor; Mr. Mladen Kraljić, Assistant Secretary General for International Relations; Mr. Uroš Kline, Head of International Office at the University of Maribor, delivered a welcome speech at the STW Opening. Mr. Mladen Kraljić made a presentation on ‘Internationalisation at University of Mariboru and ATHENA European University Association’. The participants of the training presented their higher education institutions.
The following topics were presented and discussed:
1. Green Erasmus+ Interactive presentation by Ms. Urša Zgojznik, European Climate Pact Ambassador; Ms. Jelena Štrbac Nemec, Former Green officer at the Erasmus+ national agency, author of the Green Erasmus+ handbook.
2. You are EU: Active citizenship in the EU Interactive presentation by Mr. Sebastjan Runovc/ Mr. Kristjan Kos, IPM Institute.
3. Inclusive Erasmus+ Workshop by Ms. Maja Peharc, Former Inclusion officer at the Erasmus+ national agency.
4. Pitching Erasmus+ Interactive presentation/ workshop by Ms. Maja Peharc, Ms. Jelena Štrbac Nemec.
5. Impact+ Interactive presentation/ workshop by Mr. Alen Kraševec.
6. Presentation on KA2 in E+ by Ms. Jelena Štrbac Nemec.
As part of the Staff Training Week, the participants were privileged to visit the European Commission in Ljubljana. At the end of the academic mobility, all participants were awarded certificates and souvenirs.
We express our gratitude to the University of Maribor for organizing the Staff Training Week mobility and look forward to the further development of cooperation between our universities.
Reference. The University of Maribor is Slovenia’s second-largest university, established in 1975 in Maribor. Currently it has 17 faculties. https://www.um.si/en/home-page/
