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Higher education student and staff mobility project
Start date: Jun 1, 2014, End date: Jul 31, 2015 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Context/background of the project: Mobility of students and staff has become increasingly important for our school. Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) is a small school, approx.150 students, and we need for our students to be exposed to new ideas and knowledge. They are in the future to practice as professionals in a global society where challenges require new knowledge and skills. Therefore we encourage for our students to go abroad as part of their training. For the students that are not able to go abroad for various reasons, we bring Europe to Norway through our invited professionals from enterprises. In that way, our students at home are exposed to new impulses and an international network. Objectives: Increased student and staff mobility, plus reciprocity in the mobility were specific goals for us. We see that we had more traineeships than expected. Our students are very interested in doing internship, and the dynamic structure that we have with many visiting teachers from enterprises abroad gives us a good opportunity in establishing collborations. We see an increased interest in going on exchange for study, especially after we opened up for not just 1 semester, but 2 semesters on exchange. Therefore we have had to establish a specific nomination process, where we allocate students to HEI`s based on the students interest and availability at the destinations. This is for us a way to obtain more reciprocity. Number and type/profile of the participants: Students that have completed their 3rd year are allowed to go on exchange. Mostly they do that in their 4th year. We are happy to see more students chosing Germany as a destination, as well as in Belgium for the first time. For traineship we see that students take advantage of the established long-term agreements we have with offices in Spain and Portugal. The traineeship is not part of the degree, students take a leave of absence, but will have minor free credits approved. It will also be listed in their Diploma Supplement. The school values very much traineeship, and we encourage our students to get work experience. For our students it is rather common to take a break from the study after their exam in the 3rd year, and many then choose to find internship in an architectural office abroad. Staff exchange - this is entirely professionals from enterprises that are invited to BAS to teach. Description of undertaken activities: Student mobiliy - study and traineeship. Teaching activities at BAS for invited professionals from enterprises, courses of shorter and longer duration. Result and impact attained: Outgoing students have gained valuable experience, and are exposed to ideas and programmes that complement the study at home. They bring home with them knowledge and skills that greatly benefit them in their further education and not at least in their future professional life. The new skills and knowledge that they bring with them, also benefits their fellow students at home. Language is also something our students mention as a value. By inviting professionals from enterprises, we ensure that our students at home are in touch with impulses and the close connection to practice has given us teachers that shape our programme in a very positive way. Inbound students contribute in a positive way to the learning environment at BAS and helps making our school international and intercultural, something which we value very much. Longer-term benefits: BAS is taking part in the educational stage in Europa, something which gives us credibility and we are considered a voice in the architectural discourse that is going on.

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