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Mobility of higher education students and staff supported by internal policy funds (KA131-HED) - Coordinator: FUNDACION UNIVERSITARIA SAN PABLO-CEU - UNIVERSIDAD CEU CARDENAL HERRERA

2022-1-ES01-KA131-HED-0000522892022Mobility of higher education students and stafffinalized
Countries: ES|AR|AT|BE|CL|HR|CY|CZ|EC|FI|FR|DE|HU|IE|IT|KR|LT|LU|NL|NO|PE|PL|PT|SI|SE|UK · Grant: €337,382

Objectives

The CEU Cardenal Herrera University, in executing the KA131-2022 project, sought to consolidate and expand its internationalization strategy, which we have been developing for over 20 years. The main objectives of the project were focused on promoting the mobility of students, teaching staff (PDI), and administrative and service personnel (PAS), encouraging international training and learning outside the usual university environment. Among the expected achievements was the improvement of the academic and professional training of the participants through experiences both within and beyond European borders. This included the acquisition of intercultural competencies, key aspects in an increasingly globalized world, and the exchange of best practices with foreign institutions. The project also aimed to provide personal enrichment to students and professionals by opening up new horizons, fostering multiculturalism, and promoting the learning and consolidation of languages. One of the central goals of the project was to strengthen the participants' professional competencies by promoting experiences that connected academic theory with professional practice in an international context. This would be achieved through the mobility of students for internships and staff, allowing them to interact with other universities and acquire skills that would enhance both their professional profile and personal development. The project would introduce new forms of internationalization, such as COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), which enables international collaborative learning through digital tools. The internationalization of Higher Education institutions involves implementing specific actions directed at three groups: students, teaching and research staff, and administrative and service personnel. The application of the COIL philosophy to non-academic staff is an innovative practice that, from CEU Cardenal Herrera University, has allowed us to foster greater inclusion and diversity in university management. Through 8 virtual work sessions with staff from other universities, our PAS team has been able to develop their intercultural competencies, improve management processes, and promote a culture of international collaboration without the need for physical mobility. Implementing COIL/VE for Staff at our university has allowed us to: Develop greater intercultural competence among administrative staff. Improve the efficiency and quality of work processes. Promote a culture of international collaboration and understanding. The universities that participated were Universidad Católica de Manizales, University of Florida, and Universidad CEU San Pablo. We aimed to promote mirror classes, shared sessions between universities from different countries for the exchange of knowledge. Additionally, there was a significant push to enhance BIPs (Blended Intensive Programs), providing more flexible and accessible training and allowing for greater collaboration between students and professors from different universities. These programs are essential for promoting multicultural and multidisciplinary learning in a hybrid environment. There was also a goal to increase the celebration of International Days, International Weeks, and other events such as fairs and days dedicated to cultural diversity, fostering encounters and interaction between students and professionals from different backgrounds. The digitization of processes was another objective. Through the implementation of the Erasmus Without Papers network, the university sought to streamline the signing of agreements and the management of Online Learning Agreements, improving efficiency and facilitating international mobility. This digitized system would allow for smoother and more transparent management of exchanges, optimizing both time and available resources. Additionally, there was an aim to encourage the mobility of PAS and PDI to increase their international impact, which would in turn contribute to greater internationalization for students. By promoting the participation of staff in international experiences, the aim was not only to improve the quality of teaching and administration within the university but also to enhance the exchange of knowledge and best practices with other institutions, thereby strengthening and expanding the university’s global network. In summary, the project aimed not only to consolidate the internationalization goals that the university has been pursuing for decades but also to explore new forms of international cooperation, all with the aim of improving the training and intercultural competencies of its academic and professional community, fostering a more open, global, and connected university.

Project partners (1)