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Higher education student and staff mobility project
Start date: Jun 1, 2014, End date: May 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Erasmus + is an extremely important tool for the internationalization of the University of Speyer. For young researchers and service staff, Erasmus + is one of the few opportunities to participate in training activities abroad while receiving financial support. It is also important for us to offer opportunities to study abroad for our master students (we are a postgraduate university without bachelor degrees). Many of them hold a law degree and do not have experience abroad due to difficulties of realizing a semester abroad during their first degree. The University of Speyer is a univeristy of administrative science, but very focused on an interdisciplinary and international approach since the foundation in 1947 by the French administration in the former occupied zone, modeled after the "École Nationale d'Administration". This is reflected in the module contents, which do not only cover various disciplines, but also international perspectives (EU law and policy,international economics and comparative law, etc.). Studying these contents during a semester abroad at another European University from the perspective in another scientific, political and administrative background broadens the scope and understanding of their own field of study. Furthermore, the University of Speyer is a member of the EMPA network (EMPA = European Master of Public Administration), a network of universities offering Masters Courses in Public Administration. This includes the easy exchange of teachers and students with an excellent comparability of the curriculum, which makes credit recognition easy. Moreover the members work on joint research topics and exchange relevant publications. Without the financial support from Erasmus +, exchange with these partner institutions would be much more limited. The aim of the project was, in addition to the individual support for mobilities with all its positive effects on the personal and professional development, a deepening and maintenance of the partnership with our Erasmus + and EMPA partner universities as well as the expansion of the network. The University of Maastricht appears to DUV Speyer as an interesting partner for joint projects and exchanges. A first step towards the establishment of a partnership was one (out of two) STT- mobilities in the project 2014 by a young scientist from Speyer at the University of Maastricht. He took part in an international, competitive workshop on research and teaching methods in the context of the climate change issues and thus enhanced his methodological skills and intercultural understanding, which has a positive effect on his teaching and research expertise for his work in Speyer. The other STT-mobility took place at KU Leuven, one of the founding members of the EMPA network. The deputy head of the International Office, who is Head of Department for studies and teaching, training and the promotion of research (his main activity) acts in 2016 as chairman of the EMPA network. At the KU Leuven, who had held this position in 2015, he was informed as part of a job-shadowing on the key aspects of the Chairmanship. Furthermore there were expert discussions with the Deans of two faculties and also a meeting with the EU- Unit took place, as the subsidised person has recently assumed the position of EU-research administrator in Speyer. The company of experienced colleagues in their everyday activities has made clear some processes, thus facilitating the incorporation into the partly new tasks. The seven SMS-mobilities also took place at EMPA partner universities also having an Erasmus + agreement with Speyer. The participants were recruited from the Masters Courses "Public Economy", "Public Administration" (formerly Administrative Sciences) and the administrative sciences graduate studies as well as the LL.M. "State and Administration in Europe". Following the mobility, the feedback was very positive concerning the content of teaching and the support by the host institution, as well as the recognition of credits (however, this was not desired by all!) and the development of the individual personality and language skills. Many became multipliers, which increased the requests at the International Office concerning the visited host universities. The willingness to become involved in the care of incomings grew (organizing events, technical and linguistic support, working in the Integration department of the students association, etc.). The student and staff mobility strengthens the relationship with the partner universities, which contributes to prepare the ground for further joint activities (eg. Lectureship in Tallinn, o. intended research with Maastricht).
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