Heidelberg. An initial meeting of the Consortium Committee of the project Tempus project „Embedding Quality Assurance in Doctoral Education – EQADE, financed by the European Commission took place on November 15 – 16, 2011 at the University of Heidelberg. The Consortium Committee consisted of representatives of the Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, WUS Austria, University of Palermo, University Dunarea de Jos of Galati, Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Srpska, Agency for Higher Education Development and Quality Assurance and all BiH public universities.

At the first day of the Kick-off meeting representatives of partner institutions delivered short presentations on their institutions, providing an overview of and general information on their respective institutions, with a special focus on their doctoral education systems.

The presentations were delivered in the following order:

• University Dunarea de Jos of Galati by prof. Luminita Moraru
• University of Palermo by prof. Antonella Plaia
• BiH Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance by Jugoslav Vuk Tepic
• Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Srpska by Vanja Aleksic
• University of Banja Luka by prof. Jovo Ateljevic
• University of Bihac by prof. Refik Sahinovic
• University Dzemal Bijedic in Mostar by Alim Abazovic
• University of East Sarajevo by prof. Dejan Bokonjic
• University of Mostar by prof. Ivo Colak
• University of Tuzla by prof. Enver Halilović
• University of Zenica by prof. Darko Petković

Furthermore, the meeting participants had the opportunity to hear about two successful examples of PhD programmes at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, delivered by prof. Predrag Minic, and the Hartmut Hoffman-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Heidelberg, presented by the head of the PhD program, prof. Elmar Schiebel.

The second part of the day and the second day of the meeting served as a valuable opportunity to discuss future project implementation, partner responsibilities, financial aspects and all technical details pertaining to the project conduct. To that aim, presentations on the following topics were held by prof. Hans-Günther Sonntag, Chairman of the meeting and Dean Emeritus of the Medical Faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and mr. Dino Mujkic, WUS Austria Regional Manager:  

• Project introduction, overview of activities and reponsibilities, definition of a project timetable, by mr. Dino Mujkic
• Financial aspects, by prof. Sonntag
• Definition of a project timetable for the 1st year, by mr. Dino Mujkic

The primary outcome of the Kick-off meeting is a consolidated project work plan.

Prishtina. The final meeting of the  project R&D Capacities was held at the University of Prishtina from 8th-9th December 2011. The meeting was opened by Vice-Rector Bajram Berisha, with an introductory speech by Ms Kimete Canaj from the National Tempus Office, followed by  welcome words from Mr. But Dedaj,   contact person for the project at the UP.

The meeting marked the final phase of the project which will end in January 2012. Within the framwork of the project four universities in the Western Balkans, University of Montenegro, University of Sarajevo, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and the University of Prishtina,  set up R&D Service Centres which have developed business plans, and services and instruments tailored to the needs of the respective university. The history of the project and the success stories are shared in the final project publication "Looking back and into our future" available in hard copy at the R&D Service Centres or WUS Austria or via download from the project website.

To take a look at the agenda click here. 

To find out more about the project visit the project website at www.rd-capacities.org.

Prishtina. The final event of the project QA@PHEP (www.qa-kosova.org)  took place in Prishtina on 10th January 2012. To see the AGENDA click here.

The event was attended by the project partners including an afternoon session which was open to the public. The range of speakers at the event included Consortium members - Kosovar and EU partners - and guests:

- Norma RYAN (University College Cork)

- Mariana MOCANU (University POLITEHNICA Bucharest)

- Ferdije ZHUSHI-ETEMI (Kosovo Accreditation Agency)

- Naim HASANI (Ministry of Education, Technology and Science, Kosovo)

- Michaela HANDKE (WUS Austria)

-  Vjosa MULLATAHIRI (external evaluator)

- But DEDAJ (WUS Kosova)

You can download all PRESENTATIONS here.

You can find all information about the project here: www.qa-kosova.org

 

TEMPUS INTERFACE

Sarajevo. The meeting in the frame of the Interface project was hosted by the University of Sarajevo from December 1-2, 2011.  This project aims at developing and setting up measures for initiating, enhancing and sustaining Higher Education-Society-Cooperation.

To see the agenda, click here.

Belgrade. The WUS Austria Office in Belgrade was closed in July 2011, the hand over of running projects and documentation was finished by the end of 2011. WUS Austria remains active in Serbia and is looking into new cooperation opportunities in the region in 2012.

Prishtina. The WUS Austria Office in Prishtina has moved to a new location in the city. The office is now located at  Agim Ramadani  - Student Centre/Second Floor (Qendra e Studenteve Kati I Dyte (II)) . 

WUS Austria has enjoyed working for over ten years under the same roof with the University of Prishtina at the Faculty of Philology, but new projects and new challenges require a new location and we are thus happy to be welcoming you at the new office premises in the very heart of Prishtina.

Sarajevo. The kick-off meeting for the new Tempus project "Quality in Research - QinR" took place in Sarajevo from 24th-25th January 2012. 

The overall objective of the project is to support the mostly teaching-oriented universities in four Western Balkan Countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania) to enhance their research capacities.

More specifically the project aims to enhance the conversion of Western-Balkan research standards with those of the EU member states, i.e. to meet the goals formulated in the Lisbon Convention and those set by the Bologna Process.

In detail  it aims at:
1) The introduction of quality assurance in scientific research in the target region of SEE. High standards in research also contribute to the improvement of teaching and foster innovation processes (Knowledge Triangle).
2) The development of regional as well as international relations and the fostering networking activities among the scientific community of PCUs and EUUs.
3) Supporting the Human Resource development by fostering the research work of young scientific staff at the PCUs in order to strengthen their capacities and skills and to prevent them from going abroad (brain drain).  

To see the agenda of the kick-off meeting click here.
 

The project is coordinated by the R/D Centre of the University of Sarajevo. For further information please also see the website of the R/D Centre.

Tbilisi. The kick-off meeting for the new Tempus project " Migration and Higher Education – Building Skills and Capacity - UNIMIG" took place in Tbilisi from 16-18 January 2012. 

The project is coordinated by the Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and the consortium consists of a total of 17 academic and non-academic partners.

Migration and Higher Education – Building Skills and Capacity (TEMPUS Unimig)

Kick-off Meeting in Tbilisi

The project will be implemented in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and aims at establishing master programs in the interdisciplinary subject area of Migration Studies in six universities. Three partner universities will also establish Migration Competence Centers in order to assure a strong connection between university and society. An interactive online platform will support building a strong network between the participating universities and provide the basis for a Regional Research Network on migration.  

On top of the usual kick-off presentations and consortium meeting, three workshops were organised to start with the implementation of the three main project outcomes: the master programs, the migration competence centers, and the online platform.

To see the agenda of the kick-off meeting click here.  

Graz. In the frame of work package 3, “Create a basis for PhD curriculum reform – Gap analysis on PhD structure and processes”, a benchmarking workshop was organized by the University of Graz at their premises in order to further discuss the preliminary results of the gap analysis report.

Participants from the University of Prishtina, the Ministry for Education, Science and Technology of Kosovo, and the Kosovo Accreditation Agency (from Kosovo) and from the EU partners the Universities of Graz, Granada and Vaasa, the Austrian Exchange Service – OeAD as well as WUS Austria have discussed open issues with regard to the PhD structure at the University of Prishtina in comparison to different systems in place at the participating EU universities.

The discussion was very successful and the insights into the situation of PhD studies at the different partner universities will help the consortium to make useful suggestions for the adaptation of the current PhD structure at the University of Prishtina.

To find out more about the project check out the project website.

Granada. On January 30, a workshop on international research standards was organised by the University of Granada, in order to discuss the following four areas necessary for the proper design of research and development activities in the frame of the PhD program in Food Science and Technology, to be implemented at the University of Prishtina:

1. Human resources
2. Infrastructure
3. International cooperation
4. Links with economy and society

The main aim of this workshop, with participants from the University of Prishtina and the Ministry for Education, Science and Technology for Kosovo and from the University of Granada, the Technical University of Munich, the Austrian Exchange Service OeAD and WUS Austria, was to take a final decision on research equipment to be purchased for the PhD program, in line with the needs of economy and society in Kosovo and with the human resources available at the three faculties that will implement the interdisciplinary PhD program.

The presentation and tour through the facilities of the Institute of Nutrition of the University of Granada gave an impressive overview of the research activities, projects and cooperations of the Institute.

In the following two days, four representatives of the teaching staff of the PhD program in Prishtina had the chance to meet with their Spanish counterparts and discuss the concrete ways and topics of cooperation within the PhD program in terms of joint teaching, supervision of students, and further cooperation possibilities between the two institutions.

All in all, the workshop and study visit were very successful and supported the staff of the University of Prishtina to finalise the curriculum, the equipment list and define the main research areas for the prospective PhD students.

To see the agenda of the meeting in Granada, please click here.

To find out more about the project check out the project website.

Abstract/Intro

Building the human infrastructure is necessary for a prosperous country and region. Although there have been important initiatives and contributions, both from the national as well as the European side, schools and universities in the region are still not at the necessary level. We are still confronted with out-dated curricula, ex catedra teaching methodologies, which do not stimulate analytical skills, the lack of opportunities for practical experience (partly addressed by the clinical education programme supported by USAID), the lack of relevant masters programmes and Ph.D-studies, generally of quality education although some efforts have been made, like the creation of accreditation agencies, which, however, have difficulties to deal with the mushrooming of private universities often lacking minimal standards. Often, universities lack a meaningful research component necessary to allow for research-based teaching and they also lack the administrative capacities to participate in research opportunities on the European level. The lack of capacities is also one of the reasons why the universities do not benefit fully from existing Tempus-programmes or from the few IPA-projects in the field of education, which, however are also limited by the particular IPA-approach.

To see more click here.

Salzburg. The last study visit within the project QC@UP has taken place from 5th-7th March, 2012. The delegation from the University of Prishtina comprised of ten people, the agenda of the visit can be downloaded here. 

The visit comprised of presentations covering the following topics: quality management teaching, career centre, students' union service centre,  organizational structure of the university, research support - services and marketing, research documentation and evaluation, and a visit to the library and the faculty of natural sciences.

The following persons participated in the visit from the UP:

• Luan Ahma, project coordinator,
• Tahir Arnbeshi, member of steering committee for drafting QA strategy
• Mejdi Bektashi, Vice dean faculty of law
• Adem Rusinovci, Dean, Faculty of Arts
• Enver Hamiti, Vice dean, Faculty of electrical and computer engineering
• Zeqir Veselaj, Vice dean, Faculty of education,
•  Mimoza Dushi, Faculty of science, coordinator
• Arta Xhambazi, Faculty of civil engineering, coordinator
• Arjeta   Baruti, Faculty of medicine, coordinator
• Hysen Bytyqi, Faculty of agriculture, member of steering committee for drafting QA strategy

  For further information on the project click here.

Graz. the WUS Austria Graz Office has moved to new address. We would like to thank everybody who has  helped us move the office! 

Visit us at the new premises  in:

Schmiedgasse 40/3

8010 Graz/Austria

Looking forward to seeing you there soon,

WUS Austria team

Moved with (www.schenker.at)

Barbados. Within the project ACP Observatory in Migration the THIRD ACADEMIC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING took place in Bridgetown/Barbados from 27th-29th February 2012.

To see the agenda click here.

VENUE: THE SHRIDATH RAMPHAL CENTRE,

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES, CAVE HILL CAMPUS

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS

Date: 27 – 29 February 2012

The meeting covered inter alia the following topics:

• Presentation of the results of the study on the impact of migration on development in (1) Tanzania and the planned impact studies in (2) Cameroun, (3) Trinidad and Tobago and (4) Papua New Guinea Presentation of the results of (1) the study on the South-South remittances framework in Lesotho and the studies on (2) diasporas from Kenya and (3) Nigeria in the South
• Presentation of the studies on (1) displacement in Haiti and (2) labour mobility in the ECOWAS region
• Presentation of (1) the study on the South-South labour migration framework and (2) the study on the environment and migration in DRC
• Presentation of the studies on (1) internal migration in Angola and (2) Timor-Leste and (3) return migration in Angola
• Presentation of the studies on irregular migration in Timor-Leste and Trinidad and Tobago
• Presentation of the study on human rights of emigrants in Senegal
• Presentation of the study on the impact of migration on local development in Senegal
• The Publication Guidelines and the peer review mechanism of the ACP Observatory

The studies on irregular migration in Timor-Leste and Trinidad (see above) are coordinated by WUS Austria.

Prishtina. On March 26^th the Kick-off for „Higher KOS – Promoting Institutional Development in Higher Education and Research in Kosovo“ took place in Prishtina. The project is financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation and implemented by the consortium comprising WUS Austria (World University Service Austria), ZSI (Centre for Social Innovation) and OeAD (Austrian Exchange Service). The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kosovo.

To see the agenda of the kick-off meeting click here.

The event took place in Hotel Sirius in the city center of Prishtina and was attended inter alia by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) Rame Buja, Christian Geosits of the Austrian Development Agency, Rector Muje Rugova and Vice-Rector Naser Mrasori of the University of Prishtina (UP), and Rector Mazllum Baraliu of the University of Prizren (UPZ). At the meeting the Rector of the UPZ, Mazllum Baraliu, stated that the project opens up new possibilities for the university; the Rector of the UP emphasised the long tradition of Austria supporting higher education in Kosovo which had started already in the 1990ies, e.g.  by recognition of diploma from Kosovo.

The kick-off was attended also by the national media; a small selection of articles can be found here:

EXPRESS: 15 bursa për doktoraturë në Austri

LAJME DITORE: Higher-KOS, projekt i rendesishem per Kosoven

KOSOVA.INFO: Buja: Higher-KOS, projekt i rëndësishëm për Kosovën

KOSOVAPRESS: 15 bursa për doktoraturë në Austri

Information on the project was also broadcasted by Kosovar TV stations. Find the link to the press conference here.

About the project:

The project „Higher KOS – Promoting Institutional Development in Higher Education and Research in Kosovo“ contributes to the well-functioning of the higher education and research system in Kosovo along European values, practices and standards.

Its purpose is to effectively and in a sustainable manner implement the principles of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) in the public Kosovar Higher Education (HE) institutions and to enhance Kosovo’s integration into the European Research Area (ERA).

The intervention focuses on three thematic areas:

(1)   The quality of education offered at public HE institutions will be enhanced through improved and labour market oriented teaching and learning (didactics, planning), and improved quality assurance mechanisms.

(2)   The system of research promotion in Kosovo will be improved substantially through developing capacities and establishing a national research fund and administration that is functioning according to international standards.

(3)   Quality management and governance as well as administrative capacities of main stakeholders (MEST, universities) will be further developed in order to be more efficient, transparent, effective and customer-oriented.

The three thematic areas are divided into ten components, thus allowing tailor-made measures for each of the expected results, specifically targeted at the direct beneficiaries. Direct target institutions are: the public universities of Kosovo - University of Prishtina, University of Prizren, University of Mitrovica; the MEST, the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, the Kosovo NARIC Office, and the National Research Council (approx. 2.000 staff members in total). Indirect beneficiaries are the student populations of the three public universities (ca. 55.000) as well as the students of private universities and graduates with foreign degrees returning to Kosovo (approx. another 10.000). Through enhanced research capacities and improved RTDI (Research, Technological Development and Innovation) structures in Kosovo, economic development and entrepreneurship are stimulated from which the whole society benefits. To this end, the project also contributes to economic development and poverty reduction .

For further information on the project visit the PROJECT WEBSITE: http://www.higherkos.info/

The highly equipped laboratory will offer postgraduate training and professional education with a focus on specific research projects with the view to enabling the candidates to do in-depth scientific work and provide them with additional professional qualification for future assignments in research or in related areas of work.

Prishtina. On 19^th of March 2012, in the premises of the Public University of Prizren  a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of Prizren and the National and University Library of Kosova. The aim of signing the Memorandum was the UPz’s membership in Kosovos Association of Electronic Libraries as well as the use of necessary electronic resources and materials. The Memorandum was signed by the Rector of the University of Prizren, Prof. Dr. Mazllum Baraliu and the Director of the National and University Library, Prof. Dr. Sali Bashota.

The Director of the National and University Library of Kosova used this occasion to donate books for the Library of the University of Prizren.

The Rector of the Public University of Prizren appreciated the importance of the Memorandum especially for the students of the University. He was grateful to the Director of the National Library for his commitment and cooperation but also to WUS Austria for enabling such an important issue, which is one of the activities within the Project “Higher KOS”, which was recently launched and will be implemented in the coming years at the public Higher Education Institutions in Kosovo.  

Prof. Dr. Sali Bashota mentioned also the high importance of the signed agreement for the institutions: “This is an important agreement for both institutions, the National and University Library and the University of Prizren, given the fact that the Rector and the university staff are making efforts to be a modern university with multiple programs for the advancement of knowledge, science and professional opinion, which are very important for this part of Kosovo”, stated Bashota, while adding that from now on the University of Prizren will be part of the Consortium of Electronic Libraries of Kosova.

“This is a great beginning of a joint work, which will continue also in the future”, said Prof. Bashota.

Find the original news item in Albanian at http://uni-prizren.com/?cid=1,15,211.

The 43rd EUCEN Conference took place from 9th - 11th May 2012 at the University of Graz, in Austria. The conference included presentations, workshops, a tour around campus and social gatherings.

The conference inter alia  included workshops on the following topics:

Topic 1: Innovation in regional business & industry, NGOs and the public sector – the role of ULLL
Topic 2: Community-based education and learning as part of ULLL 

Topic 3: An ageing Europe and the role of ULLL

Topic 4: Supporting the individual learner in ULLL