Innovative Strategic Partnership for European Higher Education Erasmus Project

Project Title

Innovative Strategic Partnership for European Higher Education

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: Open and distance learning; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The overall objective of the project was to support the development of an innovative pathway by improving long-term strategic collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (hereinafter referred to as HEIs) and enterprises and enhance the development of sustainable learning advancements in HEIs.
The specific objectives of the project were:
– To support and implement models for effective and practical learning, through raising the awareness for an innovation driven culture
-To establish a foundation for promoting innovation and various career paths among prospective students
– To develop cutting-edge technology platform
The overall and specific objectives addressed the following needs: strengthening the link between HEIs and the business sector, establishing joint contemporary educational practices based on existing curricula implemented separately in each partnering institution, raising innovation awareness of students and improving the intrapreneurial culture in existing businesses.
The project Consortium was composed of five organizations from four different Programme Countries: the Integrated Business Institute (IBI) – R. Macedonia (Applicant Organization), The University College of Economics and Culture (EKA) – Latvia (Partner Organization), University of Pavia – Italy (Partner Organization), Riga Technical University (RTU) – Latvia (Partner Organization) and University of Ljubljana – Slovenia (Partner Organization).
The proposal consisted of the following phases and activities:
I) Preparation phase (January-March, 2015)
– Developing a Project website
– Promotion of the project
– Kick-off meeting (held at IBI, Skopje)
– Preparation of Inception Report
II) Implementation phase (April – May 2016)
Component 1: Strategic integration of learning models (SILM)
– SILM Needs Assessment Analysis (O6)
– Working Group Meeting: “Perspectives and Modernization of Higher Education” (EKA, Riga).
– Intensive Capacity Building Staff Programme (one week training): “Implementation of innovative learning approaches at higher education institutions” (UNIPV, Pavia).
– Design of the pilot model “ Integrated Model for Fostering an Innovation Driven Culture and Learning Efficiency at HEIs” (O7)
– Implementing the Integrated Model in each of the partner institutions for a whole semester and its evaluation.
Component 2: Establishing a Consolidated Career Centre
– Intensive Capacity Building Staff Programme (one week training): Consolidated Pilot Career Centre (University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana).
– Key Drivers Analysis
– Establishing of the Pilot Consolidated Career Centre
Component 3: Development of the Business Education Public Integration platform (BEP)
– Building BEP version 1.0
– Testing and improving the BEP version 1.0
– Building BEP version 2.0

III) Dissemination (June-December 2016)
IV) Follow up (September-December, 2016)
V) Conclusion phase (November-December, 2016)

The activity plan addressed the following target groups: Research and Higher Educational Institutions, Students, Business organizations, Public bodies and institutions and Chambers of Commerce.
The Consortium devoted its maximum effort in the implementation of the project activities and the following results were achieved:
-The network of stakeholders was increased and strengthened
– The public awareness for the project activities was enhanced and the achieved project were recognizable
– The capacities of overall project team in terms of getting an in-depth introduction to the learning practices, administrative issues, innovative concepts and practical learning were enhanced
-An “Integrated Model for Fostering an Innovation Driven Culture and Learning Efficiency at HEIs” was successfully developed and it was publicly promoted through a multiplier event.
– The capacities of overall project team in terms of undertaking advisory activities, pedagogical services and participatory approach in guiding students to most suitable prospective career paths were increased
– The core operational capacities of the Pilot Consolidated Career Centre were established and developed
– The Business Education Public (BEP) Integration Platform was created and is continuously maintained.

The project produced the following impact:
– It provided a positive change in the currently implemented educational best practices
-It improved the provision for prospective career choices by offering joint expertise from a team of internationally recognized experts in various fields
– The communication barriers among the stakeholders of the project were mitigated which enabled a long-term collaborative culture among them
– The students and the business community were more actively involved in the educational sector.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 243189,88 Eur

Project Coordinator

Institut za biznis ekonomija & Country: MK

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA
• RIGAS TEHNISKA UNIVERSITATE
• Ekonomikas un kulturas augstskola
• UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI