ERASMUS+ POLICY STATEMENT-2014/2021
Please describe your institution's international (EU and non-EU) strategy. In your description please explain a) how you choose your partners, b) in which geographical area(s) and c) the most important objectives and target groups of your mobility activities (with regard to staff and students in first, second and third cycles, including study and training, and short cycles). If applicable, also explain how your institution participates in the development of double/multiple/joint degrees.
We have partnerships with institutions in many European countries through the Socrates-Erasmus scheme. Our students can choose to study at one of these institutions. We also welcome many students from partner institutions to CU each year.
a) Teaching at CU, being a traditional and public research university, is based on research. Therefore, all mobility activities are also linked with research and teaching collaboration. Decisions on degree programme specific agreements are taken on School level since the Schools possess the best academic knowledge on most active research links and similar research and teaching profiles in their specific fields, thus giving the Schools the opportunity to utilize their own networks and ensure the quality of their partners. University level partners are chosen to correspond to CU's profile and to needs of students and staff. CU’s profile accentuates research and teaching on society and health, whereas the Schools have defined their own research strengths.
b) Geographical and linguistic coverage is taken into account when selecting partner institutions. CU has not defined any geographical priorities for partnerships. However, emphasis on past collaboration has been on European countries. A strong European emphasis prevails; European mobility still accounts for more than half of all CU's outgoing student mobility and two thirds of incoming student mobility.
c) CU’s objective is to increase the mobility of teachers as well as the mobility of students in all cycles. The target ratio of mobile students is at 40 per cent compared to the cohort of the annual intake of new students in first and second cycles. In the third cycle, all doctoral students are expected to include mobility periods into their degrees. Mobility Actions to Europe, the new activities in the Programme, offer further potential for CU to meet the increased student and staff mobility targets.
Joint programmes are regarded as a means to deepen and intensify existing collaboration to next level, which is both welcomed and encouraged within CU. Joint European Master courses are also a means to raise the attractiveness of Turkish. The funding available in the Programme for Joint Master Degrees is taken into account when developing joint programmes.
If applicable, please describe your institution's strategy for the organization and implementation of international (EU and non-EU) cooperation projects in teaching and training in relation to projects implemented under the Programme.
CU's objective is to utilize current EU inter-institutional partnerships. Simultaneously, EU partnerships are further strengthened, the focus being in the quality of mobility and accessibility of mobility for all learners and staff. Long-term plans are drafted with regard to particular country slots, in order to be able to apply for cooperation projects implemented under the Programme. The establishment of the current organization to promote internationalization within the University enhances possibilities for networking and good practices across CU’s Schools. The Centre facilitates and coordinates planning, drafting and submitting applications for international projects in teaching and training. CU’s Research Services offer services related to research funding but also support the project management and reporting of teaching and training related projects. Participating in international cooperation projects serve the purpose of global responsibility and provides tools for quality assurance and better leadership. When developing strategic partnerships with a maximum of three carefully selected partner institutions, CU will engage in Strategic Partnership Projects funded by the Programme, which will be able to target e.g. the following areas highlighted in CU’s current strategy. When renewing the curricula of the degree programmes, their quality and labor market relevance are reviewed based on feedback and surveys conducted among students and the current labor market needs. In 2012, CU introduced new competency-based degree programmes, with definitions of learning outcomes for each course unit, study module and degree, thus fostering the employability of graduates. Furthermore, CU’s strategy stresses the importance of pedagogical skills when recruiting, advancing and remunerating teaching personnel. All of these are topics for potential projects.
Please explain the expected impact of your participation in the Programme on the modernization of your institution (for each of the 5 priorities of the Modernization Agenda*) in terms of the policy objectives you intend to achieve.
CU educates internationally competent experts with labour market relevant transferable skills. The Programme consists of an excellent range of activities for learning mobility of individuals, which provides CU with ample opportunities to internationalize its students and staff towards the above-mentioned objective. CU embraces new activities in the Programme concerning other countries, raising the potential for growth in mobility.
CU’s strategy underlines the quality of teaching, which is ensured by offering academic staff members opportunities for professional development. Several measures, e.g. tenure tracks, centers of excellence, a science award, university pedagogical training, best teacher award, are currently used and could be further improved in international collaboration, in order to strengthen the competence and motivation of academic staff. To enhance the recruitment and working conditions of researchers, CU commits itself to creating an open, sustainable and attractive environment for researchers and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures.
Many of the focal points for development mentioned above are best realized through Strategic Partnerships. Furthermore, joint/double degree programmes conducted with strategic partners serve as a platform for intensive and innovative collaboration and development.