The objective of this staff training week is to address the conceptualization, implementation, organization and adaptation of joint programmes. Assessment and quality assurance will also be addressed.

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Staff Week Namur

Target Audience

The staff week is intended for all staff members involved in the design and implementation of teaching and learning programmes at both central and faculty levels, particularly those working with joint and dual, or even multiple degrees.

Participants are welcome from various departments or services, including:

Academic management

Programme directors & managers
Admission and enrolment offices (including financial departments if pertinent)
Administration(s) issuing the diplomas
Joint programmes coordinators

Quality-assurance, evaluation and legal offices

- Quality-assurance officers and managers
- Administrations in charge of the follow-up of accreditations
- Legal departments

International Relations

International Relations officers
European project managers

Methodology

Morning sessions will consist of one or two induction sessions, each followed by a hands-on workshop (use case group session) on the matching topic followed by a synthesis of the findings, including preliminary operational conclusions.

Each morning session will conclude with a documented wrap-up, including lessons to be learned.

We forecast four afternoon sessions:

Session meetings freely proposed by the participants on specific subjects, according to the results of the preliminary online sessions. We expect participants to present real use cases, which can be assessed and discussed with the audience.
Experimental development of an in-silico master programme. The proposed “Master in Space Sustainability “developed by Namur and Luxembourg will be the use case.
Sandbox for innovative ideas or concepts within the European Universities initiative.
Time for personal work or social activities.

The number of workshop groups will depend on the total number of participants. The same structure will be applied each day throughout the week.

Online sessions

Three 45-min sessions, each devoted to a specific topic (see below) will take place in March before the in-person activities.

During the staff training week, staff members interested in specific topics can attend only part of the training programme. Follow-up sessions are going to take place after the staff training week. The amount and topics will be decided by the participants.

Programme

Day 1 · April 7: Legal and financial aspects

08:30-9:30: Registration and welcome of the participants
09:30-9:45: Introductory remarks by Isabella Fontana – Eric Tschirhart – Elodie Cavaille
09:45-10:30: Ice-breaking activities
10:30-10:45: Coffee Break
10:45-11:45: Induction session 1: Legal frameworks for joint programmes Although efforts have been made to harmonize higher education in Europe, variations persist in the rules governing the establishment of joint programs and the awarding of joint or multiple degrees at both national and institutional levels. During the first induction session, representatives from each institution will present the legal framework applicable in their respective countries and institutions. A synthesis of these institutional rules should be compiled and analyzed in advance of the staff week. This preparatory work will support the joint activities to be undertaken by the WP6/WP3 Hub.
11:45-12:45: Use case group session 1. Discussion about examples of solutions already experimented or implemented by the participants.
12:45-13:00: Summary of observations
13:00-14:15: Lunch
14:15-14:45: Induction session 2: Financial regimes and tuition fees. Funding mechanisms for higher education institutions and programmes differ across countries. These mechanisms, along with tuition fee policies, can influence the creation of joint programmes. Following brief presentations by representatives from each of the seven alliance countries—and from individual universities where specific financial arrangements differ from the general framework—participants will engage in a discussion to share their perspectives on the challenges and explore solutions that have already been tested. Synthesis of the financial mechanisms must be collected prior to the staff week.
14:45-15:45: Use case group session 2
15:45-16:15: Wrap-up
16:15-16:45: Open&Online Wrap-up
Guided tour of Namur

Day 2 · April 8: Pedagogical aspects

09:00-9:30: Induction session 3: Added value of joint programmes. How to build innovative curricula based on mobility paths, shared teaching activities, hybrid courses, collaboration with stakeholders, language, and intercultural skills.
09:30-10:30: Use case group session 3:
10:30-10:45: Summary of observations
10:45-11:00: Coffee Break
11:00-11:30: Induction session 4 Selection and admission criteria. Evaluations criteria and methods, grading systems and grade conversion, learning outcomes (thematic, research and international learning agreements).
11:30-12:30: Use case group session 4
12:30-12:45: Summary of observations
13:00-14:30: Lunch
14:30-15:00: Wrap-up
15:00-15:45: Open&Online Wrap-up
Onwards: Free group sessions or time for personal work
19:00: Dinner

Day 3 · April 9: Administrative aspects

09:00-09:45: Induction session 5: The Student Journey from Selection to Graduation. Overview of key roles, services, and individuals involved in managing joint programs.
09:45-11:00: Use case group session 5
11:00-11:30: Coffee Break
11:30-12:00: Presentation of observations
12:00-12:45: Induction session 6: Focus on some Key Aspects of Joint Programmes Administration and Funding. Overview on some Focus Areas: Promotion, Enrollment, Mobility Track Management, Diploma, and Diploma Supplement. Additional topics: Scholarships and Funding Opportunities (exploration of local, national, and international scholarships, as well as funding mechanisms for mobility tracks)
12:45-13:45: Lunch
13:45-14:45: Use case group session 6
14:45-15:00: Wrap-up and Conclusion
15:00-15h45: Open&Online Wrap-up
Onwards: Free group sessions or time for personal work

Day 4 · April 10: Quality Asurrance Framework

09:00-09:45: Induction session 8: Quality Assurance Policies at National level and the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes
09:45-11:00: Use case group session 8. Discussion on the accreditation policies adopted by each of the partner institutions/countries. Synthesis of the accreditation policies must be collected prior to the staff week.
11:00-11:30: Coffee Break
11:30-12:00: Presentation of observations
12:00-12:45: Induction session 9: Joint programmes Accreditations: experiences and challenges related to national, institutional, and European quality assurance policies
12:45-13:45: Lunch
13:45-14:45: Use case group session 9
14:45-15:00: Wrap-up and Conclusion
15:00 onwards: Free group sessions or time for personal work

Day 5 · April 11: European Degree and European Label

09:00-09:45: Keynote: Camille Odent (DG EAC EU Commission). Report on the final outcomes of the Erasmus+ policy experimentation projects: European degree (label) and institutionalised EU cooperation instruments.

09:45-10:45: Discussion on the “COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT”
10:45-11:00: Coffee Break
11:00-11:30: Summary of Observations and Conclusions
11:30-12:30: What next? A discussion on future collaborations among Alliance partner institutions to advance the development of joint programmes and learning activities.
12:30-12:45:
13:00-14:30: Lunch
Farewell – End of the European Staff Training Week.

Practical information

Main oragnizers

Université de Namur | Université du Luxembourg | Université de Toulouse II – Jean Jaurès

Format

Blended Intensive Programme: online and in-person activities (minimum 5 consecutive days)

BIP code: 2023-1-BE01-KA131-HED-000125803-3

Venue

Université de Namur – Faculty Economics Management Communication Politics (EMCP)

Staff week: Building a Joint Programme: Challenges and Opportunities.