Inaugural Internationalisation Conference20 March 2012

Panel 1B: Developing International Collaborations – Lessons learned so farThe Erasmus Mundus International Masters in Russian, Central and East European Studies

Dr Clare McManus, Email: Clare.McManus@glasgow.ac.uk

Central & East European Studies

School of Social & Political Sciences

Aims of Case Study

• To reflect upon the benefits and challenges of collaborative degrees with international partners

• To consider practical solutions to obstacles to international collaborative degrees

• To offer advice on the preparation of an application for Erasmus Mundus II programme (2009-2013)

What type of international degree collaboration?

- UoG is a member and the coordinating institution for EM IMRCEES, an international Consortium composed of 5 European Universities and 6 non-European universities.

Why go for Erasmus Mundus recognition of your masters/PhD programme?

- to increase international student recruitment

- EM recognition is an external validation of the high quality of your programme

- to receive student scholarships (and funding for visiting academics).

Advice: You need to think carefully about whether or not EM recognition is necessary for your programme to run or prosper.

Double Degree Partners• The University of Glasgow • Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary • The Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland • The University of Tartu, Estonia • The University of Turku, Finland • The Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research, Almaty,

the Republic of Kazakhstan

Associate University Partners• Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, Russia • The University of Western Ontario, Canada • National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukraine • Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Azerbaijan • Ilia State University, Georgia

Non-educational Associate Partners

• The Scottish Government • The Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Georgia • The Budapest Institute for Public Policy, Hungary • The Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia, Kazakhstan • Albion Overseas Ltd., UK • The Scotland-Russia Forum, UK • The Confederation of Employers of Ukraine, Ukraine

Benefits of international engagement• Enhancing academic provision and student employability• Raising the profile of the University of Glasgow internationally• Raising numbers and standards of applicants• Financial benefits through studentships, fees and funding for visiting

academics

Challenges to establishing collaborative degrees• Needs analysis - establishing the added value of your particular degree

programme• EU bureaucracy and administrative burden (less than 1 in 9 chance of

success for new EM applications) e.g. programme approval (internal/external) & monitoring

• Legal and financial differences between partners• Joint degrees / double degree

Underestimation of important issues during the needs analysis

• Lack of information on the HE systems of the partners• Lack of involvement of the appropriate people and lack of communication• Confusion on terminology (Joint degrees, Enrolment, DS)• Underestimation of sustainability issues• Underestimation of the organisational issues (certification process,

harmonisation of examination procedures and cultures)

These obstacles can be removed if you are aware of the processes and can therefore undertake an appropriate negotiation of the procedures (internally and with partners) in due time.

Institutional ownership

The programme coordinator is advised to:

1) Seek the support of Senior Management (University/College) including legal and financial endorsement required for approval

2) Ensure the commitment of the Subject/School to the proposed programme of study – devote the time

3) Secure the long-term backing of the academic and administrative staff involved in the scheme

Advice: Keep in mind that most international collaborative degrees normally require a 2-year timescale from planning to approval stage

Initial Planning for established international collaborative degrees

1) Institutional level – Internationalisation Strategy?; legal capacity to award joint/double degrees?; approval for proposed fee levels?

2) Regulatory issues – enabling regulations for a 2-year Masters degree?; are institutions able to be flexible with regard to Masters regulations

3) School / Departmental level – nature of proposed European partners; market research; competition from other consortia; strengths of the school

Advice: Keep the partners to a manageable number. It is easier to add than remove a partner from a Consortium

Initial planning – practical advice

Preferably before approaching other HEIs:1) Arrange an open meeting within UoG to disseminate information, and

invite Schools / Departments to present expressions of interest and include details of potential partners/countries

2) Involve the Head of College/Faculty, Senior University & College/Faculty Management

3) Ensure that you involve the Central Administration throughout - Senate Office, Head of Registry, Head of RIO, College International Development Manager, College Finance Manager.

Getting advice on how to set up an international collaborative degree

• Identify and address regulatory constraints at UoG and with the partners – flexibility will be needed

• Set up and attend exploratory meetings with potential partners. Ensure institutional commitment from all partners at the outset

• Don’t make assumptions. Does ‘yes’ really mean ‘yes’?• Examine the responsibilities of the coordinating institution (workload and

legal) • Determine the validation process and timetable, referring to institutional

quality assurance procedures and noting the submission deadline

Advice: Set up a meeting with key administrators in each of the partners

Preparing the documentation for establishing an international collaborative degree

• Have at least 4 or 5 face-to-face planning meetings with partners• Ensure all partners are aware of key requirements for establishing an

international collaborative degree programme• Draw up an agenda to include and resolve

– The academic content and structure of scheme including mobility– Discuss study workload & credit recognition, find common ‘key’ for credit

transfer– Responsibilities within the Consortium– Selection and admission requirements– Regulatory issues (including assessment) and procedural issues (including

appeals); exam boards; Joint Diploma Supplement– Legal and financial constraints– Visa complications

Advice: Be guided by successful EM submissions or other joint programmes within the University of Glasgow.

Draw up a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to govern the Joint Degree arrangement – Contact Senate Office for template MoA which will contain information about:

1. Description of the Programme

2. Legal Framework

3. Cooperation aspects

3.1. Coordinating institution

3.2. The boards

3.3. Task forces and committees

4. Promotion of the programme

5. Student’s administration

5.1. Student’s application

5.2. Criteria for admission

5.3. Selection procedure

5.4. Enrolment of students

5.5. Academic progress and examination of students

5.6. Mutual recognition within the consortium and the final degree

5.7. Mobility

5.8. Students’ rights and responsibilities

6. Financial Management

7. Services

7.1. Insurance obligations

7.2. Prevention and safety

8. Quality assurance

9. Faculty and administrative staff exchange

10. Duration

11. Application of law and dispute resolution

12. Intellectual property rights

13. Confidentiality

Finally….you need to think about how you intend to market your collaborative degree programme even at the programme approval stage

• Consult with University/College Marketing, Recruitment and Conversion officers for advice on best practice

• Use Quality Assurance mechanisms for marketing• Make programme website as attractive as possible and look to other international

programmes for examples of best practice

Important additional implementation measures• Draw up practical advice for students (e.g. visas, accommodation, payment of

fees/stipend…). Information should be accessible and as clear as possible.• Student insurance considerations• Induction/orientation for international students• It will be necessary to have yearly evaluation and planning meetings with all

partners

Role of the University of GlasgowPolicies and strategies to develop international collaborative degrees

Development Phase

Curriculum development

Institutional commitmentEducation and legal systemSelection of partnersInvolvement of stakeholdersCooperation of External ServicesPlanning of proceduresPlanning of ServicesEstablishing the budgetSetting up quality measuresDrawing up MoA

Implementation Phase

ApplicationSelectionAdmission/EnrolmentInduction/WelcomingTeachingMobilityDissertationDegree CertificateDiploma Supplement/Degree transcript

Follow up/ex post evaluation

Curriculum development

Websites

www.glasgow.ac.uk/erasmusmundus/imrcees

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/index_en.php

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/tools/good_practices_en.php

https://www.joiman.eu/default.aspx