ICA AS A CONSULTANCY AGENCY (CULS PRAGUE proposal) IROICA Seminar, 19 to 21 June 2008 Jan Hron Pavel Kovar Jaromir Nemec

ICA CONSULTANCY: Key Questions and their Answers  To whom will ICA provide consultancy services? To all ICA members, from both groups – advanced + newcomers.  Will ICA consultancy be useful in the process of accepting new members? Yes it will, for evident reasons.  How will these consultancy procedures run effectively? One umbrella (e.g. CULS Prague), the selection of sector/topics (see later), good and effective cooperation, good will to help.

 What form can be considered as most efficient? Two forms are under consideration. A simpler one may be announced on the ICA web-site (info on Bologna news incl. EU Programmes, etc.). The second form can go through the ICA-base of experts.  Which fields of interest are the most frequently addressed? - Innovation: New study programmes, joint/double degree programmes, joint research, etc. - Internationalisation: EU Programmes, Bologna, etc. - Internal Quality Assessment - Strategic Development Plan - Others  How to disseminate best practice? Best practice dissemination can be done through web-site, conferences/seminars, newsletters (?), etc.

LARGE SCALE OF PROGRAMMES Newcomers to ICA: mostly interested in:  Curricula Development, harmonisation, learning from partners  Capacity building, enlargement of study opportunities, increasing quality  University management, faculties, departments, administrative units Advanced members of ICA:  Joint/Double-Degree programmes (incl. Summer Schools)  Joint Research Grants (focused on EU FP) (Europe: West – East, North – South, New – Advanced, Old – New, etc.

DOUBLE-DEGREE MSc. STUDY PROGRAMMES Prerequisites:  Both SP acredited in home countries  Memorandum of Understanding between partner universities Requirements for Recognition:  Student should work out one Diploma thesis only  Student has to go through the Final Examination in each partner universities Best Practice:  First year (1st and 2nd semesters) in a home country  Next two semesters in a partner country  Diploma thesis selected by the student either in 4th or in 5th semester.

STUDY PROGRAMMES (based on new sector trends) The most frequent Study Programmes that ICA Universities will be facing:  Food quality and security  Bio-products and organic farming  Environmental quality assessment  Renewable natural resources  Land use improvement and changes  New energy sources and fuel crops  Economics and management

Web-site addresses for STUDY PROGRAMMES: Programme Erasmus Mundus Programme Tempus Programmes for cooperation EU with USA (Atlantis) Programmes for cooperation EU with Canada

INTERNATIONALISATION THROUGH THE BOLOGNA PROCESS

BOLOGNA PRIORITIES (London Summit 05/2007)

CULS Prague All Study Programmes: Three cycles In ECTS

CULS Prague Over 95 % graduates found employment within 3 months

INTERNATIONALISATION THROUGH THE BOLOGNA PROCESS The list of information: General web-site: admin_cs.pdf General call for project proposals submission: Executive Agency for Lifelong Learning Programmes: Web-site of Academia Cooperation Association (ACA): Web-site of European University Association (EUA):

INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY ASSURANCE OF STUDY PROGRAMMES  Bologna Process and its implementation (structured system, ECTS, recognition, mobility, etc.)  Accreditation process (internal & international)  Joint/Double-Degree Programmes  Support Systems for Students (see QA Questionnaires) RESEARCH QUALITY  Publications and Citations  Granting Policy  PhD Study  Reflection to Teaching/Learning Process  Selected Research Areas

QUALITY ASSURANCE STRUCTURE 1st level of QA Student + teacher (Dept. level) 2nd level of QA Dean (Faculty level) 3rd level of QA Rector (University level) 4th level of QA Accreditation Agency/ Commission (National + International level)

QUALITY ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES Many sources providing examples of good practice (ELLS – QA, Academic Quality Handbook – U. Aberdeen, EUA – QA, ENQA, etc.) Questionnaires focused on the following points:  the course  teacher  teaching/learning conditions  learning outcomes  lectures/exercises and other forms of learning Is it worthwhile to develop own ICA systems?

LONG-TERM STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN  INTRODUCTION  EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONALISATION  QUALITY OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES: EDUCATION  QUALITY OF SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES: RESEARCH  MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTION AND HUMAN RESOURCES  ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS  QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT AND CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE  PRIORITIES AND SCHEDULING

DATABASE OF ICA EXPERTS AREA/TOPICSUNIVERSITY EXPERT 2. Study Programmes DevelopmentBOKU Vienna? 3. Internationalisation WU Wageningen, BOKU Vienna 4. Internal Quality AssuranceCULS Prague 5. Strategic Development Plan? What else?