Higher education student and staff mobility projec..
Higher education student and staff mobility project
Start date: Jun 1, 2014,
End date: May 31, 2016
PROJECT
FINISHED
St Mary’s University College, Belfast, has a longstanding participation in and commitment to the Erasmus programme and has been active in the exchange of staff and students since 1994. The Erasmus programme represents an explicit part of the internationalisation strategy of the College and while a small institution the Erasmus aspect has been formative in diversification and widening access activities over the tenure of its involvement with the British Council and its management of the programme. The College has a number of academic pathways, including undergraduate degrees (primarily BEd and BA), Masters, PGCE, diplomas and certificates. The National Student Survey (NSS) results contribute to “University League Tables” and St Mary’s has consistently been in the top five institutions for student satisfaction since the NSS was established. In the Guardian Subject League Table 2016 for Education, St Mary’s was placed second out of 77 University institutions in the UK.
The International Office co-ordinates all mobility arrangements between the College staff and students to engage with institutions in the EU, USA, Africa, China and the Middle East. The Office is overseen by a working group, chaired by the College Principal and staffed by administrative staff with academic support. There are currently 12 members of staff working to support Erasmus student mobility. Up to 7 percent of the whole student body are involved in Erasmus+ activities in some capacity at any one time. It is considered a priority area by the College authorities and an important aspect of College activity for the academic staff and students alike. During the tenure of this project there were 32 students on mobility for studies between programme countries; 3 students on mobility for traineeships between programme countries and 4 staff on mobility for teaching between Programme Countries. The College on average takes in 50 inbound students per year. The outgoing students would have been second year undergraduates studying either on the Education degree or the Liberal Arts degree.
Activities included: administering and managing outbound and inbound students and staff; sending 35 students to partner EU universities and 4 staff; processing accounts; monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the project. With regards to the impact of this programme, the student mobilities have evolved into one of the most dynamic aspects of university life for all those involved. Erasmus+ inbound students are fully integrated into College life including bespoke courses for them, entering tailored modules and being actively involved in the spectrum of the College calendar of events. The outbound students have all successfully completed their Erasmus+ programme with all gaining grades which are very good to excellent on return. The experience is also registered for their Higher Education Academic Record (HEAR) and is considered to be an important and innovative aspect of their degree pathway.
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