EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General XXII - Education, Training and
Youth
Tempus Tacis
application form for a
Mobility Joint European Project
for the Russian Federation
beginning in November 1998
SECTION I: DECLARATION
We enclose documentation
confirming that the other consortium members in the project have endorsed the
content of the application.
Name of the coordinating
institution: University of Ghent (Belgium).....................................................................
Name of the Coordinator:...................................................... Name
of the legal representative:......................................
Mrs. Lieve Bracke...................................................................... Prof.
Jacques Willems.............................................................
Function: Director International Relations Office............... Function:
Rector......................................................................
Done at: the University of Ghent............................................ Done
at: the University of Ghent.........................................
Date:............................................................................................. Date:..........................................................................................
Signature:..................................................................................... Signature...................................................................................
Official stamp or seal
of the coordinating institution
SECTION II: BASIC DATA ON THE PROJECT
Title:
|
C
reation
of the
H
igher
A
cademic
I
nternational
N
etwork for
E conomists
(CHAIN-E)
|
Specific
objective:
Creation of a mobility network for
students in economics based on internationalised curricula in the field of
financial and industrial management, banking and insurance.
In which language do you
wish to receive future correspondence?:
English French German
Subject Area Code: 240
(Economics)
Project Coordinator
(contact person at the coordinating and contracting institution):
Title: Mrs. First
name: Lieve..................................... Last name: Bracke.................................................
Sex: M F
Name of the
institution: University of Ghent
Name of the department or faculty: International
Relations Office
Address: Het
Pand, Onderbergen 1
Country: Belgium.......................................... Post
code: 9000.................... Town: Ghent
Phone: 32/9/264.82.38................................. Fax:
32/9/264.83.99............ E-mail: [email protected]
Higher education
institutions involved in the MJEP
Reference number: 1 - Coordinator Contact
person: Lieve Bracke
Name of the institution: University of Ghent
Reference number: 2 - Second higher education institution Contact
person: Igor Kolobkov
Name of the institution: Ural State Vocational Pedagogic
University (USVPU)
Name of the department or faculty: Institute of Economics and
Law (USVPU), Institute of Municipal Economy and Enterpreneurship.
Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country
code: RF
Phone: 7/3432/31.23.52............................... Fax:
7/3432/31.94.63.......... E-mail: [email protected]
.................
Reference number: 3 - Third higher education institution Contact
person: Andrey Maltsev
Name of the institution: Ural State University of Economics
Name of the department or
faculty: Faculty of Finance; Faculty of Trade and Economics; Faculty of
Economics; Faculty of Management and International Economic Relations.
Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country
code: RF
Phone: 7/3432/22.96.15............................... Fax:
7/3432/22.71.47.......... E-mail: [email protected]
Reference number: 4 - Fourth higher education institution Contact
person: Darya Nesterova
Name of the institution: Ural State University
Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics.
Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country
code: RF
Phone: 7/3432/55.21.65............................... Fax:
7/3432/55.59.64.......... E-mail: [email protected]
Reference number: 5 - Fifth higher education institution Contact
person: Oleg Nikonov
Name of the institution: Ural State Technical University
Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics and
Management.
Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country
code: RF
Phone: 7/3432/74.84.26............................... Fax:
7/3432/74.38.84.......... E-mail: [email protected]
Reference number: 6 - Sixth higher education institution Contact
person: Boris Igoshev
Name of the institution: Ural State Pedagogical University
Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics.
Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country
code: RF
Phone: 7/3432/34.13.01............................... Fax:
7/3432/34.97.71.......... E-mail: [email protected]
Reference number: 7 - Seventh higher education institution Contact
person:..........................................................
Name of the institution: “X” university of the Santander
Group..............................................................................................
Name of the department or faculty:..............................................................................................................................................
Town:........................................................................................... Country
code:..........................................................................
Phone:.............................................................. Fax:......................................... E-mail:.................................................................
Reference number: 8 - eighth higher education institution Contact
person:..........................................................
Name of the institution: “Y” university of the Santender
Group..............................................................................................
Name of the department or faculty:..............................................................................................................................................
Town:........................................................................................... Country
code:..........................................................................
Phone:.............................................................. Fax:......................................... E-mail:.................................................................
SECTION III: THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROJECT
SECTION IV: PROJECT DESCRIPTION
IV.1. BACKGROUND
OF THE PROJECT
* Tempus priorities
The project
will be implemented in the Urals - one of the major economic regions of Russia,
which has a huge industrial, academic and scientific potential.
Today one of
the most important tasks is the provision of skilled personnel for realization
of this potential. Of special importance here is the preparation of qualified
experts who are capable of solving most complicated problems on the development
of market relations in conditions of continued reforming of market economy. The
present project should facilitate the solution of this task.
The public
authorities of the Ural Region see great importance in the development of
financial and industrial management, banking and insurance. The solution of the
given task is complicated by the shortage of qualified experts with higher
education. The field of business is new to the Russian Federation. Therefore,
the system of economic education in the country and, in particular, in the
Urals needs to be enriched with the foreign experience of education in these
subject domains.
Thus, the
problem of economic education at the universities of the Urals completely falls
within the framework of the priorities set by the Tempus program in Russia.
Deriving from
this, economics (code 240) was chosen as the priority subject sphere.
This subject
area also was chosen because the possibility and advantage of the
universities-participants satisfy its requirements. Each participating
university has its faculties and/or institutes preparing students to economic
and management specialities.
The given
project, devoted mainly to the creation of a network for student mobility,
includes also:
·
elements of teaching staff retraining;
·
introduction of new information technological methods into
educational process;
·
intensive language preparation;
·
development of distance learning.
* Previous cooperation
During 1994-98
a consortium of 4 Ural universities was established in the Urals. And it still
continues functioning:
·
the Ural State Vocational Pedagogical University (USVPU);
·
the Ural State University (USU);
·
the Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU);
·
the Ural State Technical University (USTU).
The consortium was created for solving joint tasks in the field of
improvement of the university management, educational activity in subject
spheres and scientific research. The consortium has been functioning as a
structure within the framework of bilateral and multilateral agreements with the
University of Ghent (Belgium) in carrying out the following projects:
·
URAL-MANAG (university management)
A foundation was laid for international activity of the Ural
universities. A coordinating center for managing international activities in
the region was created.
·
URAL-NET (development of interuniversity computer communications)
As a result of interaction of the given project with other similar
projects the universities of the consortium had an opportunity to access the
global computer network Internet.
·
URAL-INFO (information technologies in learning)
A base of relevant materials and facilities was created,
information technologies are mastered, the teaching staff and programmers are
trained to be able to introduce new information technologies in the educational
process.
·
URAL-LAN (language preparation)
The modern Language Center has been established. The Center was
supplied with the newest equipment. The technology of intensive foreign
language teaching is mastered. Regular teaching of the staff and students of
the consortium universities take place.
·
URAL-ECON (teaching and research in the field of economics)
The existing curricula were modified and new courses were
developed.
·
URAL-DISTANCE (development of distant methods of learning on the
example of economic education)
A special course was given by Prof. Pasmiller. Workshops were held
with a participation of the Ural State University representatives and the Ghent
University ones.
·
URAL-ELECTRO (teaching and research in the field of electric
power industry)
The technology of internationalized curricula development,
procedure of their coordination and introduction in the educational process was
elaborated.
·
URAL-METAL (teaching and research in the field of metallurgy)
·
URAL-LIT (teaching and research in the field of literature)
·
URAL-LEX (teaching and research in the field of comparative
lexicography)
The positive experience of international cooperation in the domain
of higher education was obtained.
The indicated
outcomes visually testify, that they are directly connected to the objectives
and tasks of the stated project and completely correspond to the Tempus
priorities. It is possible to consider the given project to be a continuation
of joint activities of the Ural consortium.
Besides, in
1994-98 Tempus/Tacis activities were jointly carried out by the universities of
Ghent (Belgium), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Valladolid (Spain) and the USVPU.
In the course of implementation of the URAL project: Upgrading of Regional
Academic Level T‑JEP‑10094‑95‑RF four structural
subdivisions were created in the USVPU for the realization and management of
international activities:
·
Regional Office for International Cooperation (RO);
·
Information Network Centre (INC);
·
Language Centre (LC);
·
Regional Centre for Student Exchanges (Vagant Centre) (VC).
The
activities of these subdivisions are of a regional character and are extended
to the other universities of the Ural consortium. The Regional Office for
International Cooperation assists in the teaching staff and student mobility
organization. The Language Centre provides language preparation of the trainees
from different universities. The Regional Centre for Student Exchanges has
developed mechanisms and procedures of student exchanges, ways of realization
of credit transfer, a method of definition of student workloads and credit
allocation, has instructed the ECTS-coordinators appointed at the consortium
universities, has mastered and disseminated the technology of producing
information packages. The VC provides informational and organizational support
for student mobility. The Information Network Centre provides the subdivisions
with communication means, with access to local and global electronic networks.
The
administrative and academic staff of all the consortium universities have been
trained in activity domains of the above-mentioned subdivisions at the
universities of Ghent (Belgium), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Valladolid
(Spain) and other European universities.
The Ural State
University for Economics (USUE) joining the consortium (as a 5th member) in 1994/98 has
established a number of partner connections with some European universities and
institutes. The University has already acquired a certain experience before
joining in the new project. Among them: Student and teachers exchanges
procedures, language training, coordination of educational programs, creation
of joint teaching materials, academic recognition of study results, agreements
for rendering educational services, management of international cooperation.
Student exchanges were conducted with Marburg University, Cologne University,
Munich University (Germany), Higher educational commercial schools of Po and
Lyons Cities (France). Teachers exchanges were conducted between USUE and
Technical University of Roitlingen (Germany), Utrecht University (the
Netherlands), London Economics School and NorthWestern College of London (GB).
At the present
time all 5 Ural universities have their own offices for the international
cooperation. It is seemed that their presence will be helpfull for the new
project fulfilment.
* Links with other programs
The described
Tempus JEP “URAL” is obviously directly connected with the objectives and tasks
of the proposed project, which can be considered as its natural sequel. The
achieved outcomes can be significantly multiplied in the course of
implementation of a new possible project to influence not only the Ural Region
but also the educational system of Russia, which will allow to use the Tempus
funds with a maximum efficiency.
Some positive
experience was accumulated also during the international project "Distance
Learning in the Economic Zone of the Urals" ww.91.05/01.01/BO41, which was
carried out by the USVPU in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Foreign
Trade. In the course of the project more than 300 workers for small business
were prepared with the distance learning method. This experience also will be
used in the execution of the stated project.
It is very
important that, the USVPU heads the Association for Scientific Research and
Educational Methods in Vocational Education (ASREM/VE), which unites more than
130 educational institutions in Russia. The ASREM/VE meets the problems of
development of State education standards of higher and secondary vocational
education and preparation of normative documents for a multilevel educational
system (bachelor and masters' courses). The ASREM/VE can really affect the
system of education in Russia, besides it has a possibility to provide official
recognition of the mechanisms and procedures of educational degrees award. The
education internationalization process in the USVPU and other universities of
the Ural consortium has a real chance to be expanded within the institutions of
the ASREM/VE because the USVPU leads the educational policy in the Association.
In USU together
with Moscow state university the preparation of masters is carried on
in the field of an economic theory. Together with St.-Petersburg state
university scientific and research work is carried on in the field of the international economic relations. With
the foreign partners, for example, with Technical university of Munich
(Germany) the research projects on a theme " International economy of the firm", and
with University of state Illinois (USA) a common theme of researches "
Market of labor " are executed.
In USTU on
faculties of the Analysis of systems and decision making and banking researches are
conducted within the framework of the regional programme financed by the
regional budget of Sverdlovsk region
of the theme of the state budget N
2980 "Mathematical and computer modeling of economic-organizing systems "; grants of Ministry of Education of
Russian Federation N 2992 "Theory and methodology of an evaluation of
efficiency of the investments on the basis of mathematical methods of the
theory of management (section economy) and N 97-0-1.9.68 "Theory
of the guaranteed management and evaluation in the tasks of financial mathematics
", and also are supported by
the grant of Russian fund of fundamental
researches (PFBR) N 97-01-01003.
USPU during many
years participates in economic programmes of Sverdlovsk region on
creation of economic culture in market conditions. Joint work by the grant
with North-East Illinois university (USA) on the programme "Economic, social
and cultural initiative. Russian-American partnership " USA N IA-AFJL-J4190526 was executed.
Within two last years USUE has received positive experience
of exchange of the students with university of Visbaden (Germany), and also
with other mentioned before universities on a specialty « World economy ».
These programs of students' exchanges of USUE are directly connected with the
stated project, as have the common objectives of creation of stable channels of
students' mobility on the base of agreed educational programs in the field of
economy.
IV.2. OBJECTIVE
AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
2.1. Objective
In general the
objective of the project is to make the student mobility possible and to update
the content of higher economic education, its methods and forms of teaching with
the help of international cooperation in this area what will promote the development
of market relations in Russia and its integration in the world economic
community.
The
improvement of higher economic education should be realized by its adaptation to
the European education dimensions. Russian economic education has not
sufficient experience of operating in market conditions therefore the students
trained do not always correspond to the requirements of the new market
conditions. The solution of this problem can be reached as one of the outcomes
of international cooperation in the field of economic education. Such
cooperation is inevitably connected with students and teachers exchanges, with
problems of development of joint professional education programs, with problems
of academic recognition of educational degrees and diplomas.
The outlined
problems in the field of economic education allow to formulate the specific
objective of the project: " Creation of a mobility network for
students in economics based on internationalised curricula in the field of
financial and industrial managament, banking and insurance for making the
student mobility possible and for upgrading of education quality".
Such a constantly functioning network will allow not only to accumulate and
generalize the experience of teaching the students, but also to prepare the
background for scientific exchange. Doubtlessly, in the course of student
exchanges the growth of the staff participating in the development of
internationalized educational programs will also be ensured. To achieve this
objective it is necessary to set the following tasks:
·
Strengthening of the existing and creation of new organizational
structures dealing with student exchanges;
·
Development of internationalized curricula and joint short-term
internationalized educational programs;
·
Development of new and improvement of the existing procedures of
recognition of the results of abroad study courses;
·
Realization of student exchanges;
·
Analysis, generalization and dissemination of the experience
obtained;
·
Taking special measures to provide the stability and
sustainability of the network created.
2.2. Outcomes,
activities and inputs
OUTCOME TABLE
Outcome reference N°: 1......................... Description
of the outcome: 73 students and postgraduates, having taken part in the
students exchange programs between Russian and European universities.
Deadline: June, 30, 2001.............................. Institutions
involved (reference N°): 1-8
Description of the activities:
1.1 Working
out a common selection procedure of students-economists at all Russian higher
educational institutions, participants of the consortium. Making use of the
foreign universities experience. The VC branches together with the home
institution professors carry out the selection. Language fluency will be one of
the most imortant criteria.
1.2 Creation
and annual updating as well as setting up in the Internet of the participating
institutions information packages (in English language).
1.3 Organization
of access to the resources of the host university (libraries, computer
facilities, etc.).
1.4 Accommodation
of foreign students in the hostels of the higher educational institutions,
participants of the project. Organization of the foreign students’ leisure.
Guarantee of their security during their staying abroad.
1.5 Language
training for the outgoing students (before their departure).
1.6 Organizational
and informational students’ support.
1.7 Supervising
of the outgoing students (application of the ECTS system; in order to achive
the best results of studying abroad the guidance from the home institution is
presupposed).
1.8 Application
of ECTS for the study results’ recognition (the regulations of the ECTS are
mentioned in the “ECTS User’s Guide” well known in European universities).
1.9 Experience
dissemination – organization of an international conference on the results of
student exchanges (in Ekaterinburg).
1.10 Experience
dissemination – organization in Ekaterinburg of 3 annual regional conferences
on the problems of economic education, with the European partners taking part.
Target group(s):
Students, postgraduate students.
Inputs allocated from the Tempus budget:
1. Covering the expenses, connected with students’ exchange
(travel and stay):
50 students' East-West mobility –
5 months; 10 postgraduate students' East-West mobility – 10 months
10 students' West-East mobility –
5 months; 3 postgraduate students' West-East mobility – 10 months
2. Financing of Russian universities information packages’
publishing.
3. Financing of work of the Language Centre teaching staff.
4. Financing of the international conference organization
expenses and covering of travel and stay costs of Russian participants.
5. Covering of travel and stay at the conference costs of EU
participants.
6. Financing of the conference printed materials issue.
7. Technical equipping of the Language Centre.
8. Financing of the administrative staff, academic staff
9. 3
conferences’ organization expenses financing. Covering of travel and stay costs
at the conference of RF participants.
10. Financing
of travel and stay of EU participants of the conference.
11. Financing of the conference printed materials issue.
Inputs allocated from outside the Tempus budget:
1. Financing
of the ECTS coordinators’ work.
2. Financing
the professors’ work in teaching foreign students.
3. Financing
of the information packages’ elaboration.
4. Financing
of the EU universities information packages’ issuing.
5. Provision
of an access to the library, computer classes and other educational equipment.
Duration (in weeks): 156
Total
Tempus funding required for this outcome (including related mobility flows)
over project duration:
ECU .560'670
(this
amount reflects the inputs from the Tempus budget only - for other
contributions see the financial table V.8.)
OUTCOME TABLE
(Continued)
Outcome reference N°: 2......................... Description
of the outcome: 75 students and postgraduate students, having taken part in the
students exchange program between the Ural higher educational institutions,
participants of the consortium.
Deadline: June, 30, 2001.............................. Institutions
involved (reference N°): 2-6......................................................
Description of the activities:
2.1 Working
out a common selection procedure of students-economists at all higher
educational institutions, participants of the consortium. Making use of foreign
universities experience. The selection has to be made by the students’ exchange
centres and professors of universities.
2.2 Creation
and annual updating as well as setting up in the Internet of information
packages of Ural universities, taking part in the project (in the Russian
language).
2.3 Organization
of access to the resources of the host university (libraries, computer
facilities ets.).
2.4 Supervising
of the outgoing students.
2.5 Accommodation
of other-town students in the hostels of the higher educational institutions,
participants of the project.
2.6 Organizational
and informational students’ support.
2.7 Application
of ECTS for the studying results’ recognition.
Target group(s):
Administrative staff, academic staff, students, postgraduate
students.
Inputs allocated from the Tempus budget:
Inputs allocated from outside the Tempus budget:
1. Financing
of the students’ exchanges:
75 students' East-East mobility,
5 months.
2. Financing
of the ECTS coordinators work.
3. Financing
of the overtime work of the teachers.
4. Provision
of an access to the library, computer classes and other educational equipment.
Duration (in weeks): 156
Total
Tempus funding required for this outcome (including related mobility flows)
over project duration:
ECU. 0
(this
amount reflects the inputs from the Tempus budget only - for other
contributions see the financial table V.8.)
OUTCOME TABLE
(Continued)
Outcome reference N°: 3......................... Description
of the outcome: Internationalization of professional educational economic
programs at higher educational institutions, participants of the project.
Deadline: August, 31, 2001.......................... Institutions
involved (reference N°): 1-8......................................................
Description of the activities:
3.1 Comparative analysis of professional educational
programs of the home and host universities.
3.2 Selection of foreign study courses, which are of
interest for the sending university.
3.3 Foreseeing the ways to overcome the differences in
professional educational programs.
3.4 ECTS system introduction.
3.5 Short-term mutual visits of administrative and academic
staff to co-ordinate the work and discuss the problems of students’ mobility,
such as diploma recognition and methods of credit transfer.
3.6 Administrative and academic staff training periods
(administrative for intensive courses for studying methods of credit transfer;
academics to perfect the teaching methods).
3.7 Expending of the library resources of partner
universities at the expense of purchasing of books and periodical issues on the
Economics problems.
3.8 Provision of project participants with an access to the
computer databases containing some information concerning the contents of
courses offered at the economic faculties of the European universities.
3.9 Creation of a computer database of educational programs,
curricula and teaching aids in Economics.
3.10 Dissemination of the experience – organization of Ural
annual inter-universities’ seminars on internationalization of higher economic
education.
3.11 Dissemination of the experience – publishing of
Newsletters on internationalization of higher economic education (3 times a
year).
Target group(s):
Administrative staff, academic staff.
Inputs allocated from the Tempus budget:
1. Financing of short-term visits.
15 Administrative and academic
staff members' mobility East-West
2. Financing of training periods and intensive courses.
15 Administrative and academic
staff members' mobility East-West.
3. Financing of the Newsletters publishing.
4. Financing of books and periodical publications
purchasing.
5. Financing of an access to the computer databases.
Inputs allocated from outside the Tempus budget:
1. Financing
of the experts work in educational programs’ analysis.
2. Financing
of the work on ECTS introduction.
3. Financing
of the work on elaboration of the didactic materials and teaching aids.
4. Financing
of 3 seminars.
5. Financing
of language courses for trainees.
Duration (in weeks): 101
Total
Tempus funding required for this outcome (including related mobility flows)
over project duration:
ECU .93'900
(this
amount reflects the inputs from the Tempus budget only - for other
contributions see the financial table V.8.)
OUTCOME TABLE
(Continued)
Outcome reference N°: 4......................... Description
of the outcome: A network of branches of the Regional Centre for Students’
Exchanges (RCSE) at the Ural universities – participants of the consortium, as
well as constant contacts of the Centre and its branches with the corresponding
structures of the European universities participating in the project.
Deadline: August, 31, 2001.......................... Institutions
involved (reference N°): 2-6
Description of the activities:
4.1 Creation of RCSE branches at the universities of the
Ural consortium and their technical provision.
4.2. Establishing of cooperation links between the heads of
the RCSE branches at the Ural universities.
4.3 Appointment of ECTS-coordinators in Economics at each
participating university.
4.4 Training of the ECTS-coordinators and staff of the RCSE
and its branches at the European universities.
4.5 Organization of meetings, conferences, seminars on the
exchange of experience with participation of the heads and the staff of the
RCSE, ECTS-coordinators and students participating in the project.
4.6 Establishing of direct links between the
ECTS-coordinators in economics of the Ural consortium universities and the
European universities, participation in the work of the ECTS ALUMNI
Association.
4.7 Dissemination of the experience – publishing activities
(Newsletters, see Outcome 3 Activity 3.11).
Target group(s):
Staff of the RCSE and its branches, ECTS-coordinators.
Inputs allocated from the Tempus budget:
1. Financing of intensive courses for the RCSE staff and
ECTS-coordinators at European universities.
2. Financing of the publishing activities (it is the same
activity mentioned above, see Outcome 3).
3. Provision of the RCSE branches with equipment:
4 PCs; 4 Laser Jets; 4 Copying
machines; 4 Binding machines.
4. Financing of software.
5. Financing of services for the equipment.
Inputs allocated from outside the Tempus budget:
1. Premises,
furniture, municipal costs.
2. Staff
costs (RCSE and its branches staff, ECTS-coordinators).
3. Computer
network, communications.
4. Financing
of conferences and seminars.
Duration (in weeks): 156
Total
Tempus funding required for this outcome (including related mobility flows)
over project duration:
ECU .38'000
(this
amount reflects the inputs from the Tempus budget only - for other
contributions see the financial table V.8.)
OUTCOME TABLE
(Continued)
Outcome reference N°: 5......................... Description
of the outcome: 20 academic staff will deliver lectures at the
universities-participants in the project.
Deadline: June, 31, 2001.............................. Institutions
involved (reference N°): 1-8
Description of the activities:
5.1 Elaboration of new study courses (reviews lectures on
subjects that are read at the professors’ home institutions) and their
methodological provision.
5.2 Organizational and informational support of the outgoing
lecturers.
5.3 Dissemination of the experience: publishing activity
(Newsletters, see Outcome 3, Activity 3.11).
Target group(s):
Academic staff, postgraduate students, students,
administrative staff.
Inputs allocated from the Tempus budget:
1. Financing
of the 15 academic staff members' East-West mobility (it is the same mobility
mentioned above, see Outcome 3).
2. Financing
of the 5 academic staff members' West-East mobility.
3. Publishing
of didactical materials (teaching aids) for the lectures to be read abroad (20
sets).
Inputs allocated from outside the Tempus budget:
1. Financing
of the work on elaboration of new copyrightable courses.
Duration (in weeks): 77
Total
Tempus funding required for this outcome (including related mobility flows)
over project duration:
ECU .22'800
(this
amount reflects the inputs from the Tempus budget only - for other
contributions see the financial table V.8.)
2.3. Impact and
sustainability
The successful
implementation of the project will influence various aspects of the system of
higher education in Russia, connected with preparation of students to be highly
qualified specialists:
·
On the national level it is the process of adaptation of
the Russian system of higher education to the European dimensions; the
possibility of mutual recognition of diplomas of future specialists in
economics; creation of a model of a rapid and reliable information exchange
system between the universities of Russia and European Union;
·
At a regional level - perfecting of the network of the
Ural universities ensuring high-quality preparation of students in the sphere
of economics; uniting of scientific - pedagogical potential of the Ural
universities for solution of problems in the sphere of student exchanges;
development of structures coordinating student exchanges at the regional level;
creation of reliable channels of information exchange on problems of
preparation of high-qualified economists;
·
At a university level - further development of university
structures connected with student exchanges (Regional Center for Student
Exchanges, Regional Office for International Cooperation); replenishment of the
library funds with the economic literature, purchased by the students during
their study courses abroad; creation of the atmosphere of interest in student
exchanges at all structural subdivisions (faculties, departments) of the university;
·
At a level of faculties - development of the structure of
the Economic Faculty by student exchanges, including those with foreign
universities; improvement of professional skills of the faculty teaching staff,
including reading of some lectures in a foreign language; increase of students'
interest in qualitative studying and learning of foreign languages;
·
At a level of departments - perfecting of curricula for
preparation of experts in the sphere of economics; teachers' mastering of
foreign languages; rise of prestige of an economic specialty in the eyes of
would-be students.
Upon termination of Tempus/Tacis
financing the outcomes of the project can be maintained and developed by the
structures established in the course of the project implementation (RCSE
branches, ECTS-coordinators). The involvement in new projects, bilateral and
multilateral agreements between the Russian and foreign universities is
possible. It is obviously possible, that the mentioned structures, using the
accumulated links, can offer the whole range of services to organizations and
population. This will ensure additional sources of financing.
The Ural universities consortium has an
intention to save and to develop the academic network established in the
framework of the CHAIN-E project. For this purpose it is planned to offer and
to realize the joint projects, financed from the respectable sources. All the
Ural universities have an experience of grants getting from the national and
non-governmental funds: “The Fund of Higher Education Development”, “National
Fund for Staff Preparation” (The Government of the Russian Federation and the
International Reconstruction and Development Bank), “G. Soros Fund (Opened
Society Institute)” etc. During the academic network creation the universities
will try to provide the financing from these sources of the respectable joint
project in the field of Economics and Education. At the present time the USVPU
and the USU have already got the positive decision of the “National Fund for
Staff Preparation” about the loan rendering for the realization of the
Innovation Education Fund project in the field of economical education of these
universities.
IV.3. MANAGEMENT
OF THE PROJECT
3.1. Management
structure
Role and responsibilities of each consortium member
The structure of management of
the project is indicated in the scheme below.
The University - Contractor is
Ghent University (RUG). During the first year of MJEP fulfillment it acts as
the University - Coordinator of the project, but it delegates some part of the
responsibilities in Russia to the USVPU. Such control circuit has been already
tested in 1994-98. In a course of realization of the Ural universities
consortium work with the Ghent University within the framework of the
multilateral agreements, and also the USVPU with Ghent, Rotterdam and
Valladolid universities under the URAL project (Tempus/Tacis)
T-JEP-10094-95-RF. The positive administrative experience accumulated for these
years allows to recommend the used circuit of work.
During the second and third years
functions of University - Coordinator of the project executes the USVPU, and
some part of the responsibilities on coordination of works in Europe are
preserved for RUG. The delegation of a coordinating role to Russian university
(USVPU) has two reasons: first, the major part of work under the project is
carried out in Russia; secondly, the fulfillment of managing functions will
allow the USVPU to fix and to advance those skills of a realization of
international cooperation, which were incorporated by joint activity of the
Russian-European consortium of universities in 1994-98.
The problems of CHAIN-E
and Russian-European subprojects development strategy (as well as development
strategy of the URAL subprojects and other projects connecting universities of
Ural and Europe into the network) will be settled by Council of the Rectors,
which includes Prof./Dr. G. Romantsev (USVPU), Prof./Dr. V. Tretyakov
(USU), Prof./Dr. V. Kamyshov (USUE), Prof./Dr. S. Naboichenko (USTU), Prof./Dr. V. Zhavoronkov
(USPU) on the part of Ekaterinburg universities.
The operating project management is carried out by
the Coordination Council of the managers of works at the universities. To be
such managers: a Vice-Rector - coordinator of the international programs (USVPU),
Prof./Dr. I. Kolobkov - Chairman of Coordination Council; a Vice-Rector on
international relations (USUE), Prof./Dr. A. Maltsev – deputy head of the
Coordination Council; the dean of Economics Faculty (USU), Prof./Dr. D.
Nesterova; Head of the Department of The Analysis of Systems and Decision
Making (USTU), Prof./Dr. O. Nikonov; a Vice-Rector on educational work and
international relations (USPU), Prof./Dr. M. Igoshev are appointed. The
managers of works at the universities coordinate aspirations of faculties and
departments involved in the project in the correspondence with the annually
developed general plan of the activity, which is approved in Tempus Department
of the ETF.
A big role in carrying out of the
MJEP CHAIN-E activities is played by the ECTS-coordinators, appointed at the
universities, who are responsible for the ECTS implementation while realization
of student exchanges. The strict fulfillment of ECTS principles, which is
steadfastly monitored by the ECTS-coordinators, is the lien of that the
procedures of academic recognition of study results will be facilitated, and
the students who wish to study abroad, will not be afraid of extension of terms
of their study because of a problem with academic recognition. In 4 of five
Ural universities the ECTS-coordinators already exist and have passed training
periods abroad and followed special courses in the USVPU: Prof./Dr. A.
Zhuchenko Vice-rector of the USVPU; the Head of the Educational Department
(USTU) Prof./Dr. V. Shavrin; the employee of the Educational Department (USPU)
Prof. M. Yelisafenko; Prof./Dr. of the International Relations Department (USU)
V. Kouzmine. Besides, the ECTS technology is widely known to the administrative
and academic staff of the USVPU, who can be involved to management of the
process of ECTS introduction into other Ural institutions.
The course of works under the
project is weekly discussed by the Head of the Coordination Council with the
representatives of international departments of universities (liaison-officers).
The meetings of liaison -officers, as an element of operating control, are
widely applied in activity of the consortium of Ural universities in 1994-98.
The functions of liaison-officers execute the following persons: Prof./Dr. T.
Begalova (USTU), Mrs. Y. Tokpiseva (USPU), Mrs. R. Shamsutdinova (USU).
The
managers of works under the project at the universities act in a close contact
with services of international cooperation. These services at various
universities are on the different stages of development, however they can
effort to cover needs of the project. The main work will be carried out by the
most developed subdivisions of the University - Coordinator (USVPU): the
Regional Office for International Cooperation, Language Center, Regional Centre
for Student Exchanges.
The Regional Office for
International Cooperation of the USVPU in cooperation with international
departments of other universities[1]
is to fulfill the following functions:
·
Regularly instructs the managers of works at the consortium universities
and various participants about new possibilities and new kinds of activity in
the framework of the project and gives practical advises.
·
Distributes information about a course of realization of the
project, ensures feedback.
·
Organizes coordination meetings of the managers of works.
·
Realizes interaction with the foreign partners - participants of
the projects.
·
Realizes planning and monitoring the course of realization of the
project.
·
Elaborates the reports (intermediate and final).
·
Represents outcomes of the project to a wide academic public.
·
Organizes international and regional conferences, seminars and
meetings.
·
Realizes developing and issuing of the newsletters.
·
Carries out the accumulation and systematization of materials on
the results of foreign training periods and of the employees of the consortium
universities.
·
Organizes sending and receiving of the official invitations.
·
Realizes communication with embassies and consulates to settle
problems of visa support.
·
Organizes visa maintenance to the foreigners in Ekaterinburg.
·
Helps in registration of the passports, insurance and other
necessary documents for departure abroad.
·
Helps in booking of the travel tickets and hotels.
·
Organizes residing, feed and leisure of the foreign visitors to
university.
·
Creates information and methodical databases for elaboration of
social-cultural programs both for the foreign visitors, and for the university
employees and students departing abroad.
·
Organizes cultural information maintenance concerning country of
stay for students the university employees departing abroad.
·
Organizes a supply.
·
Realizes print-design works of the department.
·
Organizes text translations.
·
Provides serviceable operation of all kinds of communication
(telephone, fax, mail, DHL post, e-mail).
·
Realizes the collection of the financial documents (invoices,
waybills, travel tickets) and their registration in the correspondence with
requirements of the project.
·
Realizes planning and monitoring expenditures of financial assets
of the project.
·
Elaborates the financial report on the expenditures of grant
money.
·
Conducts accounting and remittances in various currencies.
·
Inspects and adjusts the use of financial assets of the
university by the department.
Thus, the
international departments of both Ural, and European universities bear
responsibility for the most general organizational aspects of the realization
of the project: operative-circumspect activity, planning, monitoring and
reporting, distribution of outcomes of works, technical support of the mobility,
publishing works, supply and financial management.
The inclusive
aspects of the project concerning development of higher economic education,
tutoring at foreign universities and academic recognition of study periods, and
also individual problems of organization of mobility are assigned to Regional
Centre for Student Exchanges (Vagant Center) of the USVPU, which bears
responsibility for the fulfillment of the following functions:
· Introduction
of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in the Ural universities; the
guaranteed carrying out of the obligations of universities on observance the
ECTS principles and mechanisms while its using among Russian institutions as
well as while international student exchanges;
· Rendering
of the methodical and organizational assistance while introduction ECTS in the
Ural universities; rendering of organizational and information support to the
institutional ECTS-coordinators beginning the introduction of the ECTS;
involving of academic staff in a procedure of credit allocation among subjects
of the curricula;
· Coordination
of the Ural universities activity on their adaptation to the requirements of
the European educational dimensions;
· Informing
of the university administrators, students and teachers-users of the ECTS
concerning educational possibilities of the European and Russian universities;
requirements and possibilities of their reception; coordination, preparation,
elaboration and distribution of information packages of faculties, electronic
presentation versions (Home pages) and student Handbooks and Guides in Russia
and countries of Western Europe.
· The
accumulation, processing and distribution of an information on problems of
mutual academic recognition among institutions of the Ural Region;
· Organization
of training periods for the teachers and administrators of the Ural consortium
universities concerning student exchanges and academic recognition;
generalization of obtained outcomes and their distribution in the Ural
universities consortium;
· The
coordination and approvement of the normative documents on academic
recognition;
· Participation
in the development of general curricula and Russian State educational
standards;
· Maintenance
of constant contacts with the ECTS-coordinators from other universities:
exchange with the applications, agreements on study terms; coordination of the
curricula and educational programs; preparation of the documents on
transcription of outcomes of study; fixing of the courses recognition and
recognition of study periods; designing of the individual educational programs;
combination of academic requirements and personal interests of the students;
· Monitoring
of a course of study in the framework of the ECTS: maintenance of adaptation
and integration of foreign students at the university; maintaining of contacts
with the outgoing students for promotion of their adaptation and progress in
study.
· Establishment
and maintaining of contacts with structures realizing sponsorship of study
abroad, national organizations financing the programs of student exchanges.
In a course of
project the creation of the Vagant Centre branches at the Ural universities
consortium and delegation of a part of functions of Regional Centre for Student
Exchanges are supposed. Together with it, the part of the responsibility under
the project for study of the students abroad is transmitted also to the Ural
universities.
At the European
universities the responsibility for the listed above kinds of activity are
assigned to student advisory centers and to international relation offices. In
all cases at the Russian universities as well as in institutions of European
Union the kinds of activity are carried out with participation of faculty and
university ECTS-coordinators.
The
responsibility for language preparation of the students and trainees is
assigned separately to each university of the consortium. However, the
perfecting of language knowledge at the Russian participants is supposed to be
realized with use of possibilities of the modern Language Center (USVPU), which
has not only modern equipment, but also progressive technologies of teaching.
In a course of the project it is supposed to create branch of the Language
Center in opposite from the USVPU side of Ekaterinburg on the basis of the Ural
State University for Economics, to which the part of functions and
responsibility on language preparation of the most numerous quota of the
students of economic specialties among Ural institutions will be delegated.
The success of
the project in many respects depends on information support, which should be
regular, reliable, relevant and rapid. Information exchange between
universities of the consortium, search of it in computer networks, conduction
of teleconferences for the experience exchange and for project management
realization are assigned on created during the previous joint universities
activity Information Network Centers, which are responsible for this kind of
activity.
Management structure
Project management experience of the Coordinator; his/her
participation in other programs of international cooperation
Mrs. Lieve Bracke is the manager of the International
Relations Office since 1987. The department has qualified workers, who are
incorporated in two groups: conceptual and administrative. The department has
experience of coordination of the European educational projects (Erasmus,
Lingua, COMMET, Tempus), and also programs of European Union outside Europe (EC
- USA, MEDCAMPUS, Alpha, UNITWIN (UNESCO)). The equipment, know-how and
qualification of the Office employees allow to operate and to realize these programs
successfully.
Mrs. Lieve Bracke has been acting as the coordinator of
student exchange programs between the Santander group universities
ICP-94-NL-2020/17, joint European projects on student exchanges with Hungary
(in several specialities) and pre-project Pre-JEP 00304-93 with Kiev University
(Ukraine), in which university of Leeds (Great Britain) participated as
coordinating institution. She was a member of the Santander group Executive
committee (since 1993). Now she represents Ghent university, which is the
contractor-coordinator of JEP URAL (T.JEP-10094-95 RF), which includes
universities of Ghent (Belgium), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Valladolid
(Spain) and the USVPU (Russia). Besides she coordinates a series of the URAL
subprojects of Ghent University with 4 Ural universities and project OCTOPUSI,
which envelops universities of Europe, countries of a CIS, Southeast Asia and
Southern Africa.
The Prof.-Dr. G. Romantsev, rector of the USVPU has
wide experience in international and interuniversity cooperation. The
Association for Scientific Research and Educational Methods in Vocational
Education (ASREM/VE) exists more than for 10 years, and is headed by the USVPU
and integrates more than 130 institutions and colleges. The institutions of
Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other countries entered
the Association, which activity is coordinated by the USVPU. In 1987-1990 the
USVPU was one of the participants of a joint comprehensive program of Central
and East European countries "Improving the Educational System on the Base
of Using Computers ". The continuous contacts link the USVPU with Rohr
University (Bochum, Germany); Max Plank Institute (Berlin, Germany), IBM
Corporation and World ORT Union. In 1995 the university to participant of the
Tacis - Distance Learning Pilot Project in the Economic Zone of the Urals -
Russian Federation - WW. 91.05/01.01/BO41 between the Commission of the
European Communities in Brussels and Institute of National Economy in Rome,
Italy.
In 1994-1998 the
USVPU actively cooperates with Flemish community, heading a consortium of 4
Ural universities, which work with the Ghent University within the framework of
the bilateral and multilateral agreements, and USVPU, besides in the framework
of Tempus (Tacis) JEP URAL (T.JEP - 10094-95 RF). In a course of the JEP URAL
fulfillment the Regional Office for International Cooperation was created in
the USVPU and equipped with the modern equipment. The employees of the Regional
Office have gained necessary qualification upon training periods at the
European universities and are capable to execute administrative solutions of
the coordinator of the project.
Now under G. Romantsev's power the agreements have been
made and the connection with universities and colleges of Munich, Kempten,
Wiadrin (Frankfurt – on Maine) (Germany), Tyantsyn (China), Ulan-Bator
(Mongolia) has been adjusted.
The decision making process envisaged
In accordance with the management structure of the
project the solutions are subdivided on strategic and operating ones. The
strategic solutions can be connected to a measurement of the long-term plans of
work, role and responsibility of the partners, resource allocation of the
project with the purpose of increase of quality of works, optimization of the
resource expenditures. Such solutions are made by the coordinator of the
project as agreed with the Rectors Council and with bearing in mind of
judgements of other interested persons supporting the project financially, and organizationally.
The operating solutions are made within the framework
of the annual Revised Budget and Activity Plan (RBAP) and are directed to the
realization of the scheduled activities. They are made at the project managers’
level, level of the involved faculties and departments managers, managers of
international cooperation services. If the solutions affect interests of other
partner universities, their coordination with Coordinating Council is carried
out. If these solutions cause a modification of the works scheduled terms
and/or of resources, it is required to coordinate these solutions with the
coordinator of the project. The conditions of the coordination of the solutions
with Tempus Department are determined by the Contract.
