INSTITUTIONAL VISIT
Institutional monitoring is carried out at a university participating in a significant number of on-going and/or closed Tempus/CBHE projects as a partner or the coordinator, with the participation of an independent expert whose expertise will concern HEI internationalisation strategies and management, as well as knowledge of the HE sector in the country/region concerned.
OBJECTIVES:
- assess the overall impact of the HEI participation in Tempus/CBHE projects, on the institution itself, on its staff and students and, if applicable, on other stakeholders (e.g. public authorities at local /regional /national level, private sector enterprises, NGOs, etc.)
- assess the individual impact of closed projects and their actual results in terms of dissemination and sustainability (i.e. to what extent the results of closed projects are still in use in the institution and beyond)
- assess how on-going projects are taking into account the experience gained by previous generations of projects, as well as the state of play of these projects for what concerns their implementation, impact and sustainability prospects.
assess the overall operational capacity and management performance of the institution in managing Tempus and CBHE projects. - identify good practices within the institution and/or individual projects.
The focus of the visit includes presentation of the tangible products resulting from the projects (e.g. equipment, publications, newly created department/offices, etc.) as well as assessment of the horizontal links between the services involved in the internationalisation activities of the HEI (e.g. QA department, international relation office, student services, finance department, etc.)
The monitoring team will meet representatives from all levels of the institution (Rector, administrative and financial departments, international relation office, academic staff, administrative staff, trainers, trainees, students, etc.) as well as representatives from the different target groups and stakeholders concerned by the individual project results.
The visit could foresee the following meetings:
- General introductory meeting with the management, administration and project coordinators to get a general overview on the history of the HEI’s involvement in EU Cooperation programmes, the HEI international strategy and management structures in place, distribution of functions and responsibilities, quality assurance, etc.
- Specific sector meeting(s) with the financial unit to check how the financial management of projects is organised and the international relation office to see its role – i.e. from the application phase to the project management, whether there are harmonised procedures, interaction amongst projects, etc.
- Bilateral meetings with each project team to discuss about the state of play of project implementation and for closed projects, the impact and on-going activities if any. Special attention is paid to the degree of involvement /commitment / support from the HEI in the implementation of the project and the measures taken for ensuring the dissemination, actual usage and sustainability of the expected results. If the number of on-going projects in the institution is very high, it is possible to meet several project teams at the same time.
- Meetings with students and other internal or external stakeholders that have benefitted from project results (e.g. public authorities, private sector enterprises, NGOs, etc.)
The monitoring report is sent to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
I am Lirim Mehmetaj, a student from Kosovo at the University of Prishtina. Last winter semester, and currently this summer semester, I am studying at the University of Salzburg. By coming and being part of a new living and studying environment it was pretty interesting, but also challenging and very demanding. Referring to life in Salzburg, you can easily find yourself traveling into times because Salzburg indeed is a very old city filled with culture. Small and narrow alleys, paved with stones at the old part of the town, are impressive. Moreover, University is filled with students of different countries from all around the world, therefore every new acquaintance, except a new friendship is also a lesson which makes you know and understand better the diversity and multiculturalism. Erasmus is a great opportunity for Kosovar students to study and travel abroad. It is awesome that this kind of program gave me the chance to meet the world and meet new experiences, because I as a Kosovar citizen, cannot always travel freely. It is great that the EU made it possible for me to study with Erasmus. The program helps you not in just fulfilling your dreams, but also, living beyond them. Therefore, it is an extraordinary experience which changes your life forever.
"In life to be successful, you have to face challenges... and most of the time these challenges will make you understand yourself, life itself and your skills".
