Improvement of innovative teaching methods in the fields of Technology and Chemical Engineering according to the best standards of the Bologna Process Erasmus Project

Project Title

Improvement of innovative teaching methods in the fields of Technology and Chemical Engineering according to the best standards of the Bologna Process

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

Chemical engineering and technology are the foundation of innovative fields such as: nanotechnology, biotechnology as well as modern technologies of medicine production. The growing demand for innovative products makes the need for chemical engineering and technology specialists grows as quickly as the development of our civilisation. To meet this demand, it is necessary to analyse and improve the effectiveness of higher education of the students majoring in Chemical Engineering and Technology in Europe.
The strategic aim of this project was the development and implementation of the unified module of English courses into the curriculum of Chemical Engineering and Technology according to the Bologna process and the best practices created by the project members which were formed by the universities from four member countries. The Project Coordinator was Cracow University of Technology, Poland, and the other three partners were: Muenster University of Applied Sciences (FH-MS), Germany, National Graduate School of Engineering Chemistry of Lille(ENSCL), France, and The Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Portugal.
The partnership enabled the development of novel IT educational tools and an online cooperation platform where the students could learn, teach and co-create the content of novel courses in Chemical Engineering and Technology. Moreover, the teaching component was strengthened by a conference organized at the end of the project as well as 3 short-term joint staff training events. At the end of the project and the EU funding, the developed course modules were introduced into the regular curriculums and have become accessible to all the interested parties on an e-learning platform (open educational resources).
The major advantages of the e-learning platform are: asynchronous, convenient, and self-paced learning (especially if students have other commitments), easier communication between students and tutors from different partner countries, selection of a preferred method of learning, time-saving (attending the place of education is not necessary; students do not have to leave their daily routines), and also adjustment to the personal needs of every participant. Additionally, the online courses have been organised in a way that it enabled the testing of tools developed by the partnership of students and tutors. Moreover during the trainings meetings of the joint staff, the tutors showed how to use these tools.
The results of this project which we have achieved:
a ) the results achieved during the project:
(i) innovative and international academic cooperation model consisting of the representatives of the four partner universities,
(ii) the acquired knowledge and experience of project participants,
(iii) greater cooperation and mobility skills in an international environment,
(iv) improving language and communication skills,

b ) the results achieved at the end of the project:
(i) new educational offer tailored to the expectations and requirements of the job market for all partner universities,
(ii) development of online courses available on the e-learning platform for Chemical Engineering and Technology(Open Educational Resources),
(iii) development of an e-learning platform in English,
(iv) other educational materials.

In relation to the project impact, it attracted more international students from the EU and other countries to an existing international M.Sc. programme in Chemical Engineering and Technology. Due to the improved self-learning and collaboration components, barriers between different groups of students (domestic, European, international) were reduced. The existing scheme for double graduation at the partner universities was strengthened and might be extended with further partners. For other stakeholders like companies, the project improved their relation with the European students and enhanced the opportunity to recruit graduates who have a better and up-to-date back ground knowledge, therefore reinforcing their European and international dimension. For the National Agencies and the European Commission, the project contributed to the success and visibility of the new Erasmus+ programme.
The courses which were developed and introduced during the project lifetime have been available to the member universities at a dedicated website, and therefore the public has free access to them. Moreover, the member universities have ensured the availability by integrating the results into a regular course work/curriculum to guarantee their sustainability. Since these courses have been a part of double graduation processes at the member universities, the students automatically use these elements. The courses have been based on the current knowledge to meet the requirements of future employers from the European and global labour markets.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 350117,93 Eur

Project Coordinator

POLITECHNIKA KRAKOWSKA & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Instituto Politécnico de Bragança
• FACHHOCHSCHULE MUNSTER
• ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE DE CHIMIE DE LILLE