Erasmus Policy Statement AGH University of Science and Technologyfor the years 2021-2027

AGH University of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as AGH UST) is a modern, technical, state university cooperating with domestic, European as well as global universities and research institutions. AGH UST is one of Poland’s top 10 most prestigious leading universities selected by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” scheme. AGH UST provides university-level education through its 16 faculties, 60 degree programmes and over 200 majors in science with an increasing contribution from humanities, and social science. Over the last 20 years AGH UST has been a beneficiary of Socrates Erasmus, LLP and Erasmus + programmes .

In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, AGH UST’s priority for the forthcoming years is to strengthen the image of an open university where science and new technology can be initiated to meet the highest global standards. Therefore, our crucial challenge is to increase the level of internationalization, which will lead to strengthening AGH UST’s international position.

The Beneficiaries of the new edition of  the Programme will include students (1st, 2nd, and 3rd study cycle), teachers as well as administrative staff. AGH UST plans to continue cooperation under the project with partners from the EU, Eastern Europe, Asia and both Americas. The areas of special focus include cooperation with partners from neighboring countries, Western Balkan countries, Vietnam and China. Under the next Programme (2021- 2027) AGH UST plans to continue implementation of international projects aiming at the development and dissemination of innovative solutions within Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices.

The participation of our University in the Erasmus Programme is in line with the major objectives defined in the AGH UST Development Strategy including, in particular: promotion of the European dimension of education, further development of multilateral cooperation between AGH UST and universities, enterprises as well as local government organisations, an increase of the number of student, teacher and administrative staff mobilities as well as taking actions promoting full, mutual recognition of qualifications acquired by Participants as well as implementing and promoting innovative solutions.

The most important objectives behind the participation of AGH UST in the next Programme (2021- 2027) include:

1) improvement of AGH UST internationalization indicator in terms of number of mobilities;

2) development of cooperation with partner universities and enterprises along with establishing new contacts;

3) AGH UST becoming more attractive internationally (stronger position in international rankings, increased number of scientific publications);

4) support non-EU partner universities;

5) improved quality of teaching, including expanded range of foreign language courses offered by AGH UST and partner universities;

6) increased awareness of the programme and the benefits of participation among members of the AGH UST community, partner universities as well as local communities;

7) improvement of language competencies and qualifications relating to the professional profiles  of programme participants;

8) boosting employability and career prospects for AGH UST graduates aiming at the European and global labour market;

9) deeper understanding of social, linguistic and cultural diversity among the programme participants.

AGH UST’s involvement in the Erasmus Programme will contribute to implementation of the EU Council conclusions on moving towards a vision of an European Education Area through:

• adjustment of AGH UST’s education systems and infrastructure to the requirements of the digital era (training courses, seminars, student and staff consultations delivered through e-learning platform: Uczelniana Platforma e-Learningowa (UPeL);

• simplification of rules and procedures resulting in reduced administrative workload at all levels (e.g introduction of new tools: Online Learning Agreement, Erasmus Dashboard).

Cooperation carry out through participations in international educational and scientific projects is an important element contributing to empower AGH UST leading position among domestic and international research centers.

Within the new edition of the Programme AGH UST declares the will to participate in the following actions:

1) educational mobilities for students, PhD students and employees – Key Action 1,

2) cooperation for innovations and good practices in the field of capacity building in higher education including, in particular, the area of research activities conducted by AGH UST and its cooperation with business enterprises – Key Action 2.

The mentioned above actions will be implemented at AGH UST by:

1) submitting applications for funding under particular projects or co-participation in consortia,

2) signing interinstitutional agreements with foreign partners,

3) announcing programme recruitment at AGH UST and partner institutions,

4) implementation and development of student and staff exchange programmes for educational, training and research purposes with partners institutions,

5) mobility-supporting activities, including:

• development of course curricula in cooperation with foreign partners,

• establishment of compulsory research mobilities at foreign institutions,

• supporting staff and PhD candidates encouraging them to conduct innovative research and publishing scientific papers in international journals,

• promotion of joint actions towards PhD students’ graduation,

• promotion of employment of visiting professors from foreign institutions,

6) financial reporting of the projects.

AGH UST’s participation in the Erasmus Programme will contribute to the University achievement in the following objectives as specified in the AGH UST Development Strategy:

1) gaining higher internationalization indicator by increased number of student and staff mobility,

2) stronger position held by AGH UST in international rankings with a higher number of international publications,

3) improvement of quality of education and increased number of courses offered,

4) increased level of knowledge, skills and qualifications achieved by students and staff of AGH UST and partner universities,

5) higher number of bilateral agreements,

6) implementation of Electronic Document Management Systems (University digitization),

7) AGH UST graduates more attractive in the labour market,

8) AGH UST more attractive among prospective students and employees also from abroad.

AGH UST’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme has a significant impact on the process of University modernisation, aiming to:

1) improve the quality of education and the range of educational and training courses offered- in perspective;

2) boost knowledge, skills and qualifications of the AGH UST students and staff;

3) increase the number of student and staff mobilities;

4) enhance the efficiency of the University management and financing system.

The above mentioned process will be carried out in line with EU priorities designated for higher education in regards to qualitative and quantitative indicators in the following areas:

1) improvement of the quality of education through:

• ongoing amendments of the Internal system for educational quality assurance;

• development of cooperation with domestic and international partners in order to ensure high quality of education and enhancing employability of the University graduates;

• launching new majors conducted in Polish and English, leading to the acquisition of unique skills;

• broadening the offer of a double degree programmes offer;

• expanding the range of educational and training courses offered with a contribution from representatives of the business environment.

2) an increase of transnational mobilities and cooperation through:

• the development of networks of international contacts enabling transfer of knowledge, higher number of partners as well as implementation of joint educational and research programmes;

• promotion of internship opportunities within foreign enterprises;

• amendment of systems and infrastructure to meet the requirements of the digital era;

• simplification of rules and procedures resulting in reduced administrative workload at all levels introduction of new tools, including: Online Learning Agreement, Erasmus Dashboard.

3) increasing the number of graduates through:

• strengthening individual and group student counselling;

• launching new innovative degree programmes.

4) boosting up the ‘Knowledge Triangle” encompassing „Education – Research – Innovation” by:

• development of new learning and teaching methods involving representatives from business sector;

• delivering further support in acquiring placements for students’ internships and employment;

• educational, training and research projects carried out in cooperation with business enterprises.

5) creating management and financing systems through:

• modernisation of the educational and training infrastructure to meet the requirements of the digital era;

• implementation of new procedures assessing the quality of the curricula;

• development of result-based financing and rewarding systems.

AGH UST’s participation in Erasmus+ programme will enable to carry out such a wide spectrum of actions by developing relations and creating networks between institutions and their employees, facilitating cooperation in the field of education, training and research. The University will support actions undertaken by students and staff members aiming to increase international activity and mobility by:

• promoting participation’s opportunities in international projects;
• managing the flow of information between AGH UST and its foreign partners;
• hosting information events and training courses preparing for  participations in international projects;
• expanding the network of contacts with foreign partners;
• organizing information meetings and events in order to increase the number of foreign students, teaching staff.

Deklaracja Polityki Erasmus w AGH na lata 2021-2027 - wersja pdf

Erasmus Policy Statement for the years 2021-2027 - pdf version