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Erasmus networks are designed to promote European co-operation and
innovation in specific thematic areas of particular importance to
higher education in a European context. In this way, they contribute
to enhancing quality, defining and developing a European dimension
within a given academic discipline, study area, or furthering
innovation and good practice on other aspects of higher education
development. This is achieved by means of co-operation within the
network between higher education institutions, university faculties
and departments. Such co-operation should also involve academic and
other associations, learned societies, enterprises, professional
bodies, other partners of socio-economic importance in the public or
private sector and, where appropriate, student organisations. All
networks should bring together an appropriate range of relevant
stakeholders concerned by the theme addressed. Co-operation within
networks is expected to lead to outcomes which will have a lasting
and widespread impact on higher education institutions across Europe
in the field concerned.Erasmus Thematic Networks may be of two
types:
- Academic Networks designed to promote
innovation in a specific discipline, set of disciplines or
multidisciplinary area
- Structural Networks designed to help improve
and modernise a specific aspect of higher education
organisation, management, governance or funding (such as
broadening access to higher education, promoting the “knowledge
triangle” of education, research and innovation, improving
university management, enhancing quality assurance and so on).
Priority themes for both Academic and Structural Networks, are
contained in the appropriate call for proposals. Each year, network
proposals focusing on subject areas and themes not sufficiently
covered by networks already being funded under this action, are
particularly encouraged, in order to arrive an optimal coverage of
academic disciplines and key aspects of higher education development
and management. However, continuing support for networks which have
come to the end of their funding cycle is also awarded, provided
that they can demonstrate a strong track record of achievements and
impact and that extending their funding period will give rise to
significant further developments (e.g. in terms of the scope of
activities, methodological approach or geographical coverage)
The following is an indicative list of the kind of issues on
which Academic projects will tend to focus while respecting the
priorities set in the call for proposals:
- Mapping the field. This might typically involve
describing, analysing, and comparing existing teaching methods,
and defining and experimenting with new ones, identifying
existing high quality teaching material and placing it at the
disposal of the members of the network with the aid of databases.
- Activities in the Field of Quality Assurance, whether
related to an academic field or an aspect of university
management and administration
- Facilitating European Co-Operation. Assessing the
state of the art in European cooperation, identifying needs and
obstacles and ways to overcome them. Setting up tools (the use
of ECTS, new models of co-ordination, European strategies).
Promoting the production of European modules
- Defining and Updating Generic and Sectoral Competences
using the method of the Pilot Project “Tuning Educational
Structures in Europe”. Now it is up to network projects to take
the Tuning results further. Networks are now expected to
implement the methodology and outcomes of the Tuning project in
their discipline
- Promoting Synergies between Teaching and Research by
encouraging higher education institutions to integrate research
results in their teaching and link Erasmus networks with the
Thematic Networks funded by the Research DG
- Reinforcing the Link between Education and Society,
bringing together public and private sector, scientific and
professional players, thereby contributing to Europe's
innovation capacity.
Similarly, Structural Networks will normally base their further
work on a state-of-the-art mapping of existing practice and emergent
trends in different parts of Europe, and are expected to become a
sustainable European forum for the development of innovation good
practice in the organisational field concerned.
As a minimum, each network is expected to carry out the following
operational activities:
- Establish a website and other appropriate tools to support
information exchange and dissemination
- Produce an annual report on the state of innovation in its
area of activity
- Provide the ‘players’ in Erasmus with full information about
the network’s events and activities
- Organise an annual meeting in the thematic area of the
Network. The meeting will also bring together representatives of
other Erasmus-supported activities in the field concerned,
including notably Multilateral Projects and Intensive
Programmes. It can take the form of an open seminar or
conference, thereby encouraging collaboration between
Erasmus-supported projects and other relevant initiatives
- Take appropriate measures regarding the evaluation of the
network's performance.
One of the organisations participating in the network project
must act as the coordinator. However, other network partners may
take the lead on different phases of the work programme. It is vital
that the whole of the Network be actively associated with its
activities.
Full details of the conditions for participation are contained in
the general call for proposals relating to the academic year
concerned.
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