Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
Erasmus+ : Higher Education – International Capacity Building
Brussels, 3 1
ARES (2014) . 10/ 2014
Mr Stephen HWANG Rector
Linnaeus University Universitetsplatsen, 1
SE-35195 Vaxjo – SWEDEN
Email: stephen.hwang@lnu.se
Subject: Results of Tempus monitoring visit at Linnaeus University
Dear Mr Hwang,
As you know in the framework of the management of the Tempus Programme the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) carried out a field monitoring visit to Linneaus University on 22 and 23 September 2014. The visit was carried out by Ms Alba Chiara Tiberi, Tempus Project Advisor.
The aim of this exercise was to assess the performance of the co-ordinating institution in managing Tempus projects and the state of play of project implementation, and to possibly identify aspects of good practice.
The visit took place at the Linnaeus University in Vaxjo, where Ms Tiberi could meet you and the staff members of the University who are currently involved in Tempus projects. We would like to thank you and all the staff members who participated in the meetings for the time devoted to the discussions and for the information they provided on how the University is managing Tempus projects.
We were pleased to learn that the management values very much the participation in Tempus projects, both in terms of increased visibility for the University and promotion of internationalisation and societal impact. The University has actually showed an increased interest in Tempus lately and has been awarded with three Tempus grants in the last Call (2013). We take this opportunity to congratulate you for this very good result and encourage you to build on this experience and explore the new funding opportunities under the EU Erasmus+ Programme.
We noted very positively that the support by the management materialises in the availability of strategic funds to facilitate the partners’ search and the joint preparation of project proposals with the partners. This helps foster the ownership of the project by the consortium since the very outset and can be reported as good practice.
We also appreciate the fact that the staff involved in the four projects is very committed and have good knowledge of the partner countries as well as of Tempus rules and procedures.
Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency Avenue du Bourget 1 – BE-1049 Brussels – Belgium
Office: BOUR 2/17, Telephone: direct line (32-2) 295 61 50. Fax: (32-2) 299 45 30.
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus
The financial management structure in place seems robust. The centralisation of the financial control and of the payment system ensures a quality check over all Tempus projects’ expenses. This is ensured by the project support group established two years ago by the University.
The International Relation Office is kept involved in Tempus related activities. It is good that its expertise and support is also is available to the project teams.
As you know, specific timeslots were dedicated to bilateral meetings with the teams of the four Tempus projects coordinated by your University:
- 530576 : “National Education Framework for Enhancing IT Students’ Innovation an entrepreneurship” coordinated by Prof. Arian it Kurti
- 543839 : ”A Network for Developing Lifelong Learning in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine”,
coordinated by Prof. Ulf Rosen
- 543889 : ”Advanced Training and life Long learning Program in Applied Health Sciences”,
coordinated by Prof. Mosad Zineldin
- 544498: “Interregional Network for Innovative Development of Ecosystems Technosphere Based on Micro- and Nanoobject Technologies “, coordinated by Prof. Mosad Zineldin
It appeared that for the time being the developed expertise for the participation in Tempus projects is concentrated in two relatively small project teams in the Faculties of Technology and of Business and Economics with few opportunities for exchange of practice or for coordination of management methodologies.
During the discussions we noted with pleasure good practices that could be shared amongst project coordinators. For example, in the framework of the Tempus projects 543839 and 530576, efficient coordination and management approaches have been shown – with clear communication established amongst partners and transparent financial management practices within the consortium. Therefore, it would be enriching for all the project teams to meet and share their management practices.
Moreover, there are some subject areas of cooperation that are common to the different projects and where synergies might be created. Durin g he visits it was underlined that the Executive Agency places great importance on the dissemination of information within the University and especially on the exchange of experience and good practice amongst the project teams.
In this respect, a good initiative has already been taken by two of the projects to hold a joint conference in May 2015 combining the experience in Lifelong Learning in Applied Health Sciences and the Network for Lifelong Learning.
We would therefore encourage the project teams and the university management to invest in such kind of activities and foresee concrete opportunities to share project management methodologies at different levels: among Tempus project coordinators, with other EU funded project coordinators, among all staff interested in international cooperation and project management. This might contribute to increase or consolidate knowledge exchange and capacity building amongst staff.
Please be kindly informed that a project specific feedback is being sent to each Tempus project coordinator with the main findings and conclusions of the monitoring.
Finally, we thank you once again for all the time that was invested by your team to prepare the visit and for the information provided. In this regards, we would like to address a particular thank to Professor Ulf Rosen for the coordination efforts and the very accurate preparation of the monitoring visit.
We kindly request that this information is shared with the project management team and with all those who participated in the meetings.
Should you have any questions or need any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us (e-mail: eacea-tempus-proiect-managemlent@ec.europa.eu ).
I wish you a successful continuation of your activities.
Yours sincerely,
Copy:
Prof. Ulf Rosen ulf.rosen(a)lnu.se
Prof. Arianit Kurti arianit.kurti@lnu.se Prof. Mosad Zineldin ulf.rosen@ln u.se
September 22, 2014
Monitoring Days by EACEA , Results
by admin • NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
Erasmus+ : Higher Education – International Capacity Building
Brussels, 3 1
ARES (2014) . 10/ 2014
Mr Stephen HWANG Rector
Linnaeus University Universitetsplatsen, 1
SE-35195 Vaxjo – SWEDEN
Email: stephen.hwang@lnu.se
Subject: Results of Tempus monitoring visit at Linnaeus University
Dear Mr Hwang,
As you know in the framework of the management of the Tempus Programme the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) carried out a field monitoring visit to Linneaus University on 22 and 23 September 2014. The visit was carried out by Ms Alba Chiara Tiberi, Tempus Project Advisor.
The aim of this exercise was to assess the performance of the co-ordinating institution in managing Tempus projects and the state of play of project implementation, and to possibly identify aspects of good practice.
The visit took place at the Linnaeus University in Vaxjo, where Ms Tiberi could meet you and the staff members of the University who are currently involved in Tempus projects. We would like to thank you and all the staff members who participated in the meetings for the time devoted to the discussions and for the information they provided on how the University is managing Tempus projects.
We were pleased to learn that the management values very much the participation in Tempus projects, both in terms of increased visibility for the University and promotion of internationalisation and societal impact. The University has actually showed an increased interest in Tempus lately and has been awarded with three Tempus grants in the last Call (2013). We take this opportunity to congratulate you for this very good result and encourage you to build on this experience and explore the new funding opportunities under the EU Erasmus+ Programme.
We noted very positively that the support by the management materialises in the availability of strategic funds to facilitate the partners’ search and the joint preparation of project proposals with the partners. This helps foster the ownership of the project by the consortium since the very outset and can be reported as good practice.
We also appreciate the fact that the staff involved in the four projects is very committed and have good knowledge of the partner countries as well as of Tempus rules and procedures.
Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency Avenue du Bourget 1 – BE-1049 Brussels – Belgium
Office: BOUR 2/17, Telephone: direct line (32-2) 295 61 50. Fax: (32-2) 299 45 30.
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/tempus
The financial management structure in place seems robust. The centralisation of the financial control and of the payment system ensures a quality check over all Tempus projects’ expenses. This is ensured by the project support group established two years ago by the University.
The International Relation Office is kept involved in Tempus related activities. It is good that its expertise and support is also is available to the project teams.
As you know, specific timeslots were dedicated to bilateral meetings with the teams of the four Tempus projects coordinated by your University:
coordinated by Prof. Ulf Rosen
coordinated by Prof. Mosad Zineldin
It appeared that for the time being the developed expertise for the participation in Tempus projects is concentrated in two relatively small project teams in the Faculties of Technology and of Business and Economics with few opportunities for exchange of practice or for coordination of management methodologies.
During the discussions we noted with pleasure good practices that could be shared amongst project coordinators. For example, in the framework of the Tempus projects 543839 and 530576, efficient coordination and management approaches have been shown – with clear communication established amongst partners and transparent financial management practices within the consortium. Therefore, it would be enriching for all the project teams to meet and share their management practices.
Moreover, there are some subject areas of cooperation that are common to the different projects and where synergies might be created. Durin g he visits it was underlined that the Executive Agency places great importance on the dissemination of information within the University and especially on the exchange of experience and good practice amongst the project teams.
In this respect, a good initiative has already been taken by two of the projects to hold a joint conference in May 2015 combining the experience in Lifelong Learning in Applied Health Sciences and the Network for Lifelong Learning.
We would therefore encourage the project teams and the university management to invest in such kind of activities and foresee concrete opportunities to share project management methodologies at different levels: among Tempus project coordinators, with other EU funded project coordinators, among all staff interested in international cooperation and project management. This might contribute to increase or consolidate knowledge exchange and capacity building amongst staff.
Please be kindly informed that a project specific feedback is being sent to each Tempus project coordinator with the main findings and conclusions of the monitoring.
Finally, we thank you once again for all the time that was invested by your team to prepare the visit and for the information provided. In this regards, we would like to address a particular thank to Professor Ulf Rosen for the coordination efforts and the very accurate preparation of the monitoring visit.
We kindly request that this information is shared with the project management team and with all those who participated in the meetings.
Should you have any questions or need any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us (e-mail: eacea-tempus-proiect-managemlent@ec.europa.eu ).
I wish you a successful continuation of your activities.
Yours sincerely,
Copy:
Prof. Ulf Rosen ulf.rosen(a)lnu.se
Prof. Arianit Kurti arianit.kurti@lnu.se Prof. Mosad Zineldin ulf.rosen@ln u.se