Tempus Application Marathon
Graz. It was almost a photo finish, but in the end not less than five grant applicants from different countries together with WUS Austria managed to hand in Tempus IV project proposals for the second call. A lot of work and effort was put in those proposals by all involved partners, until all needed documents were successfully submitted to the EU by the 12th of May 2009.
All five Tempus IV proposals handed in feature well established stakeholders of the academic world in the Western Balkans and the EU as well as new co-operation partner of Higher Education Institutions in Northern Africa (notably Morocco and Tunisia). The common aim of all proposals is to strengthen the Higher Education System in the target regions in terms of teaching, research and innovation as well as to boost the knowledge transfer between different stakeholders. The projects can significantly contribute to the development of the Higher Education System in the target areas according to the goals of the Bologna Process and the Lisbon Convention. Below is a brief overlook of all five projects for which WUS Austria acts as project co-ordinator:
- The main objective of the project ‘Centres for Curricula Modernization and Lifelong Learning’ (grant applicant: University of Applied Science Joanneum) is the establishment of innovative centres at several universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to support the universities’ development and encouraging links between higher education institutions and the regional economy. The main long term objective is to establish a clear and transparent methodology of curricula development as a precondition for the accreditation and licensing of curricula of these Higher Education Institutions.
- The project ‘Migration and Higher Education: Developing Skills and Capacity’ (grant applicant: CIRPS, La Sapienza) helps to foster the transfer of skills and competences in the interdisciplinary field of migration studies in the North African region, specifically in Morocco and Tunisia. This will be achieved by the development of a basic curriculum in Migration Management with a regional dimension. This curriculum will be implemented in from of a two year master program in four partner country universities.
- The project ‘Kosovo Interdisciplinary Knowledge Triangle Center – PhD based Education, Research and Training’ (grant applicant: University of Prishtina) supports the improvement of the conditions for the development of professional research capacities and PhD study programmes at Faculties for Medical & Natural sciences at the University of Prishtina (UP) in Kosovo. Thus the project follows the aim of supporting the UP in fulfilling a central role in Kosovo’s innovation system and society.
- The project ‘Knowledge Transfer Unit – Fostering Applied Research to Enhance Technology and Entrepreneurial Know-How Exchange’ (grant applicant: University of Zenica) strengthens the missing knowledge transfer between partner country universities in the Western Balkans (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia) as well as Morocco and the local and regional enterprises. Four technology centres equipped with rapid prototyping machinery will act as a valuable access point for different stakeholders.
- Last but not least the project ‘Supporting and Developing the Structures for the QA at the Private Higher Education Institutions in Kosova’ (grant applicant: University of Salzburg) has the goal to strengthen quality assurance at Private Higher Education Institutions by establishing QA-Centres within two years at eleven private HE Institutions in Kosovo. The EU Partner countries of the project will offer their expertise and good practice in the field of quality assurance.
The WUS Austria team wants to take the opportunity and thank all partners involved in these project proposal processes for their great help and co-operation. We keep our fingers crossed that as many of these projects as possible will be granted by the European Commission.
