1st International Newsletter

Summary

About the Project

Realise Survey Outputs

Comparative Analysis

Transational Meeting in Catania

Next steps of the project

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Dear reader,

Welcome to the REALISE newsletter!

In this first edition we are delighted to introduce the project to you; it

is a three year European Strategic Partnership project that aims to

improve the implementation and recognition of staff mobility in order

to maximise its impact on both individuals and institutions.

You can follow the developments of the project by visiting the

REALISE website

The REALISE Team

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ABOUT REALISE PROJECT

REALISE “Realising the potential of the international

mobility of staff in higher education” is a three-

year European Strategic Partnership project that

aims to improve the implementation and recognition

of staff mobility in order to maximise its impact on

both individuals and institutions.

The project pursues 3 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify and develop innovative practices re-

garding the implementation of the Erasmus+

programme for staff mobility

2. Foster the recognition of mobility in the career

development of academic, administrative and

echnical staff in HEIs

3. Raise institutional awareness about the added

value of staff mobility and promote its contri-

bution to HEIs’ internationalization strategies

10 universities from 10 countries are involved in

the project:

Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, France

(Coordinating institution)

Linköping University, Sweden

Uniwersytet Warszawski, Poland

Middlesex University, United Kingdom

Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Universiteit Gent, Belgium

Univerza v Ljubljani, Slovenia

Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

Universita degli Studi di Catania, Italy

The 10 universities (and their associated partners)

will work together over a three-year period (2016-

2019) to deliver constructive outputs:

A set of survey tools to assess mobility practices

in a number of European countries.

A comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis

of staff mobility across Europe.

A Handbook for improved implementation of the

Erasmus+ programme for staff mobility.

A Training module on how to improve staff mobility

activities in European HEIs.

The conclusions of the national / European policy

dialogue aimed to make innovative recommen-

dations.

The project expects the partners’ practices in the

implementation and management of the Erasmus+

programme for staff mobility to be durably improved,

especially the recognition and promotion of mobility

in professional development, and innovative re-

commendations to be made to a wider range of

European HEIs.

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REALISE SURVEY OUTPUTS

The first tool that was developed to realise the objectives

of the project was creating a comprehensive survey focu-

sed on staff mobility activities and their connection to in-

ternationalisation and modernisation strategies. The REA-

LISE survey consisted of three components, each directed

at a different target group. In April 2017, we launched an

on-line questionnaire aimed at gathering qualitative and

quantitative data from staff members from partner and

associated partner universities. The respondents (both

academic and administrative staff) were asked to reflect

on their most recent Erasmus+ mobility that took place

within the last five years and share their views and ac-

complishments, suggest improvements, and provide other

data that would be further used for the analysis. Staff

members who did not go on an Erasmus+ mobility also

served as an important source of information as they gave

us insight into the reasons for not participating in the staff

exchange. The questionnaire was on-line for three mon-

ths, in June 2017 we reached the number of more than

6000 respondents from all ten participating countries.

Simultaneously, each partner conducted a series of semi-

structured interviews with university management such as vice-rectors for international relations,

deans of faculties or heads of human resources. We asked about challenges and obstacles that staff

mobility activities face, recognition of mobility periods and mobility-friendly environment, to name a

few. Finally, to complete the survey, we came up with the mapping tool – an on-line questionnaire on

staff mobility directed at international relations offices at partner and associated partner universities.

We were looking for both qualitative and quantitative data that would enable us to compare figures,

identify trends in mobility and its impact, and map practices regarding the management and imple-

mentation of Erasmus+ staff mobility activities. In total, 61 higher education institutions provided da-

ta. The results of the survey lead to production of a comparative analysis of staff mobility across Euro-

pe. It will also help the partnership to identify good practices that could be included in the staff mobi-

lity handbook, which will be the final output of the project.

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TITOLO BRANO INTERNO COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

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Early in 2017, the REALISE partners launched a survey which received over 6000 responses from universities

across the 10 European countries represented by the partnership.

The survey aimed at gathering figures, data and trends on staff mobility; identifying challenges and obstacles

staff mobility activities are facing; and mapping practices regarding the management and the implementation

of Erasmus+ staff mobility activities in the universities responding to the survey.

The results of the first two aspects of the survey have led to an analysis of activities, benefits and obstacles

which will be published in a report in January 218. This report also identifies good practices that will enable

the construction of a toolkit and to support engagement in policy dialogue.

Benefits and obstacles have been explored in the report under three headings: management; promotion

and dissemination; encouragement and recognition. A range of insights have emerged in all these areas

which can provide valuable guidance for universities seeking to improve the experience of international

staff mobility for their staff, and also for visiting staff.

The overall analysis is encouraging. While some obstacles may continue to create real barriers for some,

there is plenty of evidence to suggest that the number of staff who would go on a mobility can be increased

by addressing some of the topics identified in this report.

On the basis of these findings, the partners are now developing a set of actions and examples of best

practice in the management of staff mobility, to be presented as a toolbox to be tested in 2018.

"Per attirare l'attenzione del lettore, inserire qui una citazione o una frase tratta dal testo."

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TRANSNATIONAL MEETING IN CATANIA

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The University of Catania has welcomed the second REALISE transnational meeting on October 26th and

27th, 2017.

During the meeting, the comparative analysis report has been presented (report written by Middlesex

University) and on this basis the partners have worked on the production of the REALISE toolbox.

The content of the report, which resume the results of the survey conducted in the first mounth of the

project, has been analysed by various points of view: mobility demographics and activities; management;

promotion and dissemination; encouragement and recognition.

Here there are some points coming out during the discussion:

Taxation of the funding by the states to be integrated to the policy dialogue.

Question: procedure for accepting or not a candidate should there be a homogenized procedure?

Staff should question themselves about short term development goals and long term development

goals.

Tools should clearly differentiate academic and administrative staff.

A quick review of the tools that have been prepared by the partners before the meeting has been introduced

by the University of Barcelona and all partners has then discussed on the improving of the tools, both at

strategic and technical level (management, promotion and dissemination, encouragement and recognition) .

The Advisory Board shared the discussions of the first day and brought very fruitful feedback for the review

of the analysis and the structuring of the Toolbox.

The meeting also allowed the partnership to clarify the development of the testing and evaluation phase

and the final events. External and internal communication have been tackled with the next publishing of

the Newsletter.

It was also an occasion to keep reinforcing interpersonal relations and to climb the Etna!

TITOLO BRANO INTERNO

Questo brano può contenere 75-125

parole.

La selezione di immagini ed elementi

grafici è un passaggio importante in

quanto questi elementi consentono

di aggiungere impatto alla pubblica-

zione.

Analizzare l'articolo e valutare se le

immagini inserite sono coerenti con il

messaggio che si desidera trasmette-

re. Evitare immagini che risultino

fuori contesto.

In Microsoft Word sono disponibili

migliaia di immagini ClipArt, nonché

numerosi strumenti che consentono

di disegnare forme e simboli.

Dopo aver scelto l'immagine corretta,

posizionarla accanto all'articolo e

inserire una didascalia.

NEXT STEPS OF THE PROJECT

REALISE is over one-year old!

Work in progress….

The partnership is presently working hard to

produce a TOOLBOX. The toolbox will be sent to

the main internationalization actors of higher

education institutions among our partners and

associate partners. It will be made of tools and

actions to be tested by the institutions to improve

the implementation and recognition of staff

mobility.

During 2018 the project partners and associate

partners will test the actions proposed in the

toolbox and evaluate their feasibility and efficiency.

The feasible actions will be included into a final

handbook that will then be disseminated

among higher education institutions throughout

Europe.

In 2018 the project partners will also organize

events at national level in order to engage into

a “policy dialogue” with national stakeholders

and policy makers on the implementation and

recognition of Erasmus+ staff mobility.

The first one will be organized by the University

Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 and will take place in

Paris on January 24th.

Remember to follow the progress of the project

on www.realise-erasmusplus.fr

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SPAZIO

PER IL

FRANCOBOLLO

Organizzazione

Indirizzo ufficio 1

Indirizzo 2

Indirizzo 3

Indirizzo 4

Telefono: 555-555-5555

Fax: 555-555-5555

Indirizzo di posta elettronica:

CONTACT INFO

UNIVERSITÉ PAUL-VALÉRY MONTPELLIER

Direction des Relations Internationales et de la Francophonie

3Route de Mende 34 199

Montpellier Cedex 5FRANCE

Phone: +33 (0)4 67 14 23 39

For general enquiries: marine.chabbert@univ-montp3.fr

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