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

University of Applied Sciences in Karlovac is a public higher education institution established through the departments performing 8 undergraduate studies (Gamekeeping and Environmental Protection, Mechatronics, Food Processing Technology, Nursing, Safety & Protection, Mechanical Engineering, Textile Engineering, Hospitality) and 3 graduate studies (Business Administration, Safety & Protection, Mechanical Engineering). With the launch of the Bologna Accord, by building quality assurance systems and initiated international activities, Karlovac University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) started with the process of joining the European Higher Education Area. One of the goals of the development strategy for the period 2011-2016 was to obtain the Erasmus University Charter, which would start the process of student and staff mobility. Since Erasmus University Charter was awarded to KUAS in 2012, the previously stated goal was achieved and the academic year 2012/2013 was the first year of our participation in the Erasmus mobility. The strategy stated the involvement of at least 1% of students and 2% of teachers in the Erasmus mobility, which was achieved for the most part. After being awarded the Erasmus Charter for the period 2014-2020, KUAS began with significant internationalization as planned in the new Strategy. A further objective of the University of Applied Sciences in Karlovac is to improve the quality of implementation of Erasmus projects and intensification of incoming and outgoing student mobility. Project 2014-1-HR01-KA103-000089 was achieved in the context of the new strategic period in which our primary goal was to increase the number of bilateral agreements, to increase the outgoing mobility, and to start with the incoming mobility of students. The duration of the project 2014-1-HR01-KA103-000089 was originally planned until 30th September 2015, however, due to unused funds by students and staff we requested an extension of project duration and in this extra period we managed to spend most of the funds. A total of 21 people, of which 16 students and 5 teachers participated in the mobility. Among these, a total of 13 students used the funds for professional practice, and three students were on a study visit. Teaching staff achieved one mobility for teaching purposes and four mobilities for the purpose of professional development. Most mobilities were achieved in Slovenia, as in previous years. However, during this project we achieved mobilities in countries which we did not have cooperation with previously, like France, Germany, Slovakia, Portugal and Spain. Mobility was also achieved with countries we previously cooperated with such as Austria and Poland. Most of student mobility referred to the professional practice, and this is the activity of the greatest interest at our institution. Students from almost all study programmes are involved in this activity. Professional practice is mostly contracted with companies where students gain much needed experience. This form of cooperation is extremely interesting for both the students and Karlovac University of Applied Sciences since it aims to enhance the quality of cooperation with the business sector to help students easily engage in work activities after their graduation. Performing professional practice is mandatory part of the curriculum of undergraduate study programmes and students performing professional practice in international organizations gain a certain number of credits. Staff who participated in mobility was mostly younger teachers, who mostly participated in professional development mobilities. They participated in activities that sought to improve the professional knowledge of a particular scientific field. However, these activities enabled the arrival of staff from foreign institutions at Karlovac University of Applied Sciences, as well as developing ways of implementing the exchange of students, joint publication of scientific papers, and participation in editorial boards, all of which contribute to the quality of the programme and widen the effects on other areas of work. In the long run, all these activities improve the qualifications of staff or the students, increase the level of practical knowledge, contribute to the development of new ideas and the interconnectedness of organizations involved in mobility.

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