Meeting at the Ministry of Education and Science Thursday, December 14, 2006

Content Joint degrees and accreditation Joint degrees and accreditation Tuning project and adaptation to the local needs and constraints Tuning project and adaptation to the local needs and constraints

Definition of a joint degree Along a survey on Master Degrees and Joint Degrees in Europe (September 2002) by European University Association, a definition of Joint Degrees is still lacking (different national legislations). However different interpretations are possible Special characteristics are needed: Developed and approved jointly Developed and approved jointly Mobility of students for courses in different institutions Mobility of students for courses in different institutions Fully recognition of courses, studies and exams Fully recognition of courses, studies and exams After completion of the programme, students obtain either the national degree of each participating institution or a degree awarded jointly (therefore common accreditation). After completion of the programme, students obtain either the national degree of each participating institution or a degree awarded jointly (therefore common accreditation). Due to national legislations, joint degrees certificates are generally not recognised by law Due to national legislations, joint degrees certificates are generally not recognised by law

Differences between so-called “Joint Degrees” Type of degreesCharacteristics Joint Degree One national qualification/accreditation, with reference to a joint programme Double Degree Involving 2 separate national qualifications Delocalised Degree Programme accredited by a EU country, delivered generally in an foreign University (visiting Faculty, local tutors, supervision of exams)

Obstacles for a joint degree To amend national legislation: regulations about awarding degrees (accreditation) or Joint Degrees certificates (issued by partner institutions). Special difficulties for regulated professions To amend national legislation: regulations about awarding degrees (accreditation) or Joint Degrees certificates (issued by partner institutions). Special difficulties for regulated professions Quality Assurance: common mechanism (EUA institutional evaluation, with team of EU experts) Quality Assurance: common mechanism (EUA institutional evaluation, with team of EU experts) Cost of real joint degrees: minimal requirements for student and staff mobility, problem of additional fees for students, cost of development of common curricula Cost of real joint degrees: minimal requirements for student and staff mobility, problem of additional fees for students, cost of development of common curricula Costs of double degrees: double fees for students Costs of double degrees: double fees for students Costs of delocalised EU degrees recognised in a foreign country, either as distance teaching or visiting Faculty: fees of the EU University, higher than in Georgia, because including missions for courses and supervision of exams Costs of delocalised EU degrees recognised in a foreign country, either as distance teaching or visiting Faculty: fees of the EU University, higher than in Georgia, because including missions for courses and supervision of exams Therefore problems of sustainability

Activities Research: Doctoral research, organization of workshops and conferences, preparation of scientific papers Research: Doctoral research, organization of workshops and conferences, preparation of scientific papers Teaching: Master in European Studies (MAES), ES courses (minor or elective) in disciplinary Masters, distance teaching, lifelong learning Teaching: Master in European Studies (MAES), ES courses (minor or elective) in disciplinary Masters, distance teaching, lifelong learning Forum on European issues Forum on European issues Consulting: think tank on practical issues Consulting: think tank on practical issues The IES will try to exploit at the best synergies between these activities

The IES institutional concept Decisions of the Project Steering Committee are the following: A separate interdisciplinary Institute, strongly linked to the involved faculties; A separate interdisciplinary Institute, strongly linked to the involved faculties; A light administrative staff, taken if possible within the 4 faculties; A light administrative staff, taken if possible within the 4 faculties; A pedagogical Staff recruited transparently as contract lecturers (TSU teachers, experts, etc.); A pedagogical Staff recruited transparently as contract lecturers (TSU teachers, experts, etc.); A separate budget, necessary for establishing a business plan and defining sustainability issues; A separate budget, necessary for establishing a business plan and defining sustainability issues; A sub-account of TSU for accounting reasons; A sub-account of TSU for accounting reasons; MAES degree will be delivered by the 4 Faculties MAES degree will be delivered by the 4 Faculties

Staff recruitment Transparent recruitment on job profiles, for the Director, and later the Director of Programs, among the Staff of the involved Faculties Transparent recruitment on job profiles, for the Director, and later the Director of Programs, among the Staff of the involved Faculties Part time administrative Staff from TSU Part time administrative Staff from TSU Contract lecturers (from TSU involved faculties, experts, etc.), recruited on their competences to deliver courses, defined in the MAES Contract lecturers (from TSU involved faculties, experts, etc.), recruited on their competences to deliver courses, defined in the MAES Student’ jobs for library and ICT room Student’ jobs for library and ICT room The workforce has to be adapted to the evolution of the work tasks, whence the use of part time contract jobs

Prospective IES Chart Director IES IES Management Finance Communication Marketing LRC Library Course room ICTs room Programmes MAES Distance teaching Lifelong learning Administration

Prospective IES Chart Director IES IES Management Finance Communication Marketing LRC Library Course room ICTs room Programmes MAES Distance teaching Lifelong learning

Sustainability issue TACIS Project is funding the LRC (room refurbishment, equipment) and the preparation of the MAES (teachers’ training, study tours, EU experts tasks) TACIS Project is funding the LRC (room refurbishment, equipment) and the preparation of the MAES (teachers’ training, study tours, EU experts tasks) TSU is funding local workforce and running costs, essentially through students’ fees and other activities of the IES TSU is funding local workforce and running costs, essentially through students’ fees and other activities of the IES Sustainability depends on the ability of the IES to lead enough paying activities to balance the IES costs in the long term. Quality of teaching activities will be the main way to ensure sustainability, thanks to a strong demand of the different teaching targets: TSU students, distance teaching, lifelong learning.

Learning Resource Centre (LRC) The LRC will be situated in the 2 nd building of TSU. The essential components are: A seminar or course room A seminar or course room A place for ICT equipment (workstations, distance teaching) A place for ICT equipment (workstations, distance teaching) A specialized library on European Studies A specialized library on European Studies An equipped office for the management of the IES and of the LRC An equipped office for the management of the IES and of the LRC Besides, it would be interesting to dispose of a larger place to welcome researchers preparing their thesis