Strengthening IMPAct of Latin American universities Erasmus Project

Project Title

Strengthening IMPAct of Latin American universities

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 : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

The project enhances the quality of Colombian, Cuban and Panamanian universities by transferring the EU expertise to design and implement a quality referential (framework, tools & methodology) based on impact assessment. This tool complements the actual QA systems currently limited to quality of teaching and research. This fosters an evolution towards an impact-driven culture in the institutions which improves the quality and relevance of the services that they provide to their community. The project results in an impact QA system, inspired by EU experience and customized to the 3 national contexts. The HEIs are capacitated for applying the quality referential at the institutional level (impact is measured and included in strategic development) and at the functional level (more activities/projects are targeted at local communities and their impact is maximized). The fitness for purpose and practical relevance of this QA system are verified by its implementation in 11 universities, under the mentorship of European experts.Results and best practices are compiled in two publications series: one for senior university management explaining how to measure, monitor and increase impact and collecting best practices. The second series, for faculty and specialist staff, provides guidelines and inspiration on how to maximize impact of universities activities for local environment and illustrates it it by a case studies compendium. Main findings and recommendations are shared with the 3 countries stakeholders during the project conference to build awareness and stimulate replication.The project promotes cultural changes in the universities who understand better how to answer the needs of their environment how to engage into innovative and more impactful activities. Regional & local communities benefit from the concrete results of the pilot projects and tighten their links with HEIs open to the local environment.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 986961 Eur

Project Coordinator

EFMD AISBL & Country: BE

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
• UNIVERSITA CATTOLICA DEL SACRO CUORE
• UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA
• PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD JAVERIANA
• UNIVERSIDAD DE PANAMA
• UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE
• UNIVERSIDAD DE ANTIOQUIA