Internationalization and increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of European universities on the world stage is one of the most important goals guiding the creation of the European Higher Education Area. To achieve this goal, however, active and committed participation of the employees of these universities is needed. Meanwhile, unfortunately, employees of many European universities are not interested in participating in this process or are very reluctant to participate in it. Only a small percentage of employees of European universities show initiative in working with foreign students, applying for foreign grants for research and scientific work, publishing the results of work in international magazines, trips to foreign universities to conduct research and work with students, or participation as hosts during study visits from other countries. This is obviously not a problem for all European universities, but unfortunately there are still many. The main goal of the project is to increase the interest of European HEIs employees in participating in international activities implemented by their universities by developing a set of tools and guidelines dedicated to HEI staff until end of project. Materials developed under the project will be directed to HEI authorities on the one hand - giving them real and practical tips on how to motivate employees, and on the other hand to employees - helping to overcome barriers that inhibit their participation in international universities. During the implementation of the project, following activities are planned: 1. Surveys among the HEI employees from countries participating in the project. An online survey containing questions about the motivation to participate in various international activities carried out at the HEI where they work, as well as questions about the most important factors preventing individuals from participating in such activities. Based on surveys, a report with results in individual countries will be prepared. Report will also contain a comparative analysis of motivation in individual countries. 2. Desk research on the best practices in motivating employees to participate in international activities carried out by their universities. In each project country, experts will select 5 universities where the largest percentage of employees take part in international activities. Then, systems that motivate employees to international activity will be analyzed. 3. Preparation of the publication. On the basis of the results of research under O1, a publication will be prepared, which will contain research reports under O1, as well as a set of guidelines for HEIs authorities on how to encourage and motivate employees to actively engage in international activities implemented by the university. Publication in the languages of all partners, available online. 4. Preparation of training materials dedicated to employees of universities. On the basis of research on the factors that most often prevent HEI employees from engaging in international activities of the HEI (other than the lack of time and resources), training materials will be developed in order to help overcome these factors. We plan to organize training for people representing universities from each country participating in the project. These will be the persons responsible at their universities for recruiting employees for international activities - training, internships, trips to study visits, binding foreign guests, scientific research, project implementation, etc. During the training, each group (the group is employees of one HEI) will also work on developing a strategy to motivate employees in their institution. A strategy tailored exactly to the situation and conditions at the HEI. After the training they will be available online so that other universities can use them. Main results planned under the project are: • report from the research conducted under the project (report will contain information from survey filled by employees of universities from project countries. They will be asked about reasons for their low interest in international activities, as well as about main obstacles they meet if they want to involve in internationalization if their home universities). • Publication dedicated to HEIs authorities. • set of training materials dedicated to employees of European HEIs. Content of materials will be result of surveys filled by HEIs staff about reasons and obstacles preventing them from active participation in international activities. • One 5-days training for representatives of authorities (or people responsible for recruitment of staff for international activities implemented at given HEI) At the end of the project it is planned to organize international conference.
The main goal of the project was to increase the interest of European HEIs employees in participating in international activities implemented by their universities by developing a set of tools and guidelines dedicated to HEI staff. It was planned that implementation of the InterAct project would contribute to: • Change of attitudes of HEIs employees toward participation in international activities in their universities. • Encouraging HEIs employees to looking for opportunities develop their skills at the international arena. • Increasing of knowledge about main reasons and obstacles preventing HEIs staff from active international activities. • Increase interest of HEIs authorities in further identification reasons of problems with active participation of their employees in international activities. • Increase of interest of HEIs authorities in looking for new solutions motivating their employees • Start international and national discussion about reasons of low participation of HEIs staff in international activities • Establishing new partnerships, contacts and exchange of knowledge and experienced between HEIs authorities. • Increase number of HEIs employees involved in international activities
We planned that the implementation of the project would improve the existing situation regarding the involvement of HEI employees in international activities The main goal of the project was to increase the interest of European HEIs employees in participating in international activities implemented by their universities by developing a set of tools and guidelines dedicated to HEI staff. Materials developed under the project are directed to HEIs authorities on the one hand - giving them real and practical tips on how to motivate employees, and on the other hand to employees - helping to overcome barriers that inhibit their participation in international universities. By employees, we understand both didactic staff taking part in international activities, as well as administrative staff responsible for organization and coordination of international activities. The implementation of the project helped, on the one hand, identify the causes of the existing situation (of low level of involvement of HEIs staff in international activities), on the other, develop tools that will allow better and more effective motivation of researchers to participate in internationalization activities carried out on behalf and for the given HEI.