Implementation of Mobility Windows at Arqus Universities

The Arqus European University Alliance brings together nine longstanding and excellent research universities. High quality teaching and student learning is a matter of course within the Alliance.

Thus, one of the main objectives within the Alliance is to enhance the local academic offer at the partner universities to ensure that students develop global and forward-looking generic competences through the incorporation of flexible and innovative learning opportunities.

To achieve these objectives, the Arqus Alliance aims to support new forms of structured mobility through the development and implementation of Mobility Windows. Mobility Window is understood as “a period of time reserved for international student mobility that is embedded into the curriculum of a study programme.” (Ferencz et al. 2013, 12). Applications are welcome by 29 February.

Objectives of the action

Mobility Windows aim to enhance the attractiveness and excellence of both study programmes and virtual and physical mobility. Students benefit from a complementary offer and additional international study paths which will also increase the overall quality of the academic offer. The Alliance is convinced that including structured mobility into the curriculum will reduce mobility barriers, foster student and staff mobility and will increase the visibility of new, innovative and international learning opportunities. Furthermore, the implementation of a structured mobility by building up networks and closer ties among partners will offer further opportunities to intensify the partnership in the field of curricular collaboration (e.g. joint programmes).

Expected impact

Foster academic cooperation and enhance the international dimension of education and learning within the partner universities within the Arqus European University Alliance
Increase of synergies among Arqus partners by implementing curriculum cooperation
Remove mobility barriers by simplifying academic exchange and providing the additional opportunities of structured exchange
Improve the quality of programmes by including an international academic offer and thus increase the attractiveness of study programmes
Improve of key competences and skills of participating students through the incorporation of flexible and innovative learning opportunities
Forge new mind-sets and approaches to academic studies through international, interdisciplinary and intercultural experience
Support the creation of new subject-related academic networks within the Alliance

How to set up a project

The Arqus Alliance recommends developing and implementing mobility windows by using the step-by-step recommendations for designing and implementing mobility windows which were developed during the previous implementation phase of the Arqus Alliance.

Priority will be given to the optional windows with highly-prescribed content (Op-Hip): elective modules that should be integrated in the curriculum of the individual study plans/curricula.

The modules should be fixed in terms of ECTS and learning outcomes but still provide some flexibility in terms of allocation of courses. When designing the modules, the possibility of funding via mobility programme such as Erasmus+ and their ECTS minimum requirements should be taken into account.

Other types of mobility windows will be taken into consideration if the implementation and purpose are well justified in the application.

Support of the Arqus Alliance

To support the implementation of Mobility Windows in the best possible way, the Alliance offers the following:

Financial support:

Nine Mobility Windows will be funded with a lump sum of € 3000 each, which may be used for organisational support of the implementation (e.g., staff costs, travel costs, organisational costs).

A short explanation about the plan on how to use the funds within the project should be provided in the application.

Information and expertise:

The Arqus Alliance and the Work Package members will offer continuous support by providing information sessions, best practice examples and individual advice during concept design, preparation, development and implementation. Assistance is also offered in the identification of alternative financial support and in the preparation of the organisation of mobility.

Selection criteria

The following criteria are applied for the selection of projects:

Relevance

Overall aims and general objectives and learning outcomes
Project rationale and needs analysis on which the proposal is built
Link to Arqus major goals and focus areas

Quality

Feasibility & Innovativeness
Number of participating partner universities
Type of Mobility Window

Implementation and Impact

Implementation plan
Impact & Ambition
Organization of mobility and Sustainability

Selection Process

Work package (WP) 6 will set up a selection committee and will propose one project proposal per Arqus University for funding. The team of work package 6 will act as an interface between the individual initiatives to make sure that the selected projects are diversified in terms of subject areas and to avoid duplications. Confirmed projects will then be presented to the Action Line Education Board for confirmation.

Proposals which are not selected for funding may contact the local contacts for further support.

Grant notification will be provided to applicants by the end of March 2024. The funding is earmarked for use until 31st of March, 2025. Postponing the activity after this period is not possible.

After the use of the grant, project coordinators are asked to hand in a short report and justification about the use of the funding.

The report form will be provided to successful applicants after their successful selection of the project is confirmed.

Relevant information

Step by step Guidelines developed by Arqus 1.0, Action Line 3.3 members
Recording of the Mobility Window webinar organised by AL 3.3 of Arqus I
Recording of the Mobility Window explanation by AL 3.3 of Arqus I
Application form

 

Contact information

In case of any questions related to Mobility windows development, please, contact the local coordinators of each University:

University of Graz

Elisabeth Hillebrand-Augustin: / +43 316 380 1074

Ulrike Krawagna: / +43 316 380 1217

University of Granada

Artur Schmitt: / +34 958 246104

Leipzig University

Isabelle Maringer: / +49 341 97 32030

University of Lyon 1

Maeva Sagueton: / +33 4 78 77 72 72

University of Minho

Estela Vieira: / +351 253 601 904

University of Padova

Elisa Cipelli: / +39 049 827 7470

Vilnius University:

Eva Šiaulytė: / +370 5 268 7064

Lina Malaiškaitė: / +370 5 268 7076

University of Wroclaw:

Urszula Broda: / +48 71 375 2705

Application

The Arqus European University Alliance invites all interested parties to submit project proposals by filling in the online application form.

Applications should be handed in by the coordinating person (main applicant), who will then be coordinating the process of the MW design and who will be responsible for the project implementation and distribution of funds.

Application period: December 4, 2023 – February 29, 2024
Project period: March 2024 – March 2025

The newly implemented mobility windows should start no later than the winter semester of 2026.