ERASMUS POLICY STATEMENT (Overall Strategy)

 

 

            Our international strategy is intended to engage the largest possible number of students and staff in the international exchange to enable them to benefit educationally, culturally and linguistically from the experience of learning or teaching in other countries, and to enrich the process of internationalisation and modernization.

            Our partner selection is done by participating in contact seminars, direct contacts by email or eTwinning. Moreover we hope to get contacts through several Chambers of Commerce in order to find companies with similar sectors to our profiles. For the last two years we have been participating in a Leonardo da Vinci project to give the students the opportunity to get quality training practice and also to improve the professional training of the teachers involved.  Regarding institutions, our criteria are to search for HIEs with similar teaching to ours. We would like to collaborate with them in the exchange of students and teachers and good practice. We would also like to make contacts with companies through these institutions.

            Mainly our geographical area is Europe. In recent years and within different Life Long Learning programmes, we have established contacts and agreements with other institutions and enterprises from countries such as Finland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Ireland and United Kingdom. However, IES “Ramón y Cajal” is willing to collaborate and cooperate with any EU country, and we are working to develop activities to promote mobility and cooperation eliminating all kinds of barriers.

 

Our main objectives are:

• To improve the appeal and quality of vocational training. Participating and being part of European programs increases the consideration that Vocational training has around us (students, families and teachers). More and more students will choose our Center to study because of its European dimension.

• To increase the transparency of qualifications. The work that is being done and that is set on training agreements, Europass Mobility Document and other possible certificates contribute to the fact that the qualifications are not only known but also recognized and valued in other countries. The official validation of their qualifications will improve their possibilities as future European citizens.

• To increase the possibilities of work placements of students. The European experience is key in the improvement of the linguistic, personal and professional competence of the students, improving their work possibilities. It facilitates them to find a job in a different country and the improvement of their competences makes them come back to Spain with new ideas, knowing other working ways and other languages .This encourages them to be enterprising, to start their own business or to find a better job.

 

Our target groups are adult VET students who are studying short cycles (two years) and also staff teachers who are providing VET studies. The students will benefit educationally, linguistically, professionally and culturally from the experience of learning or training in other European countries. This will help us create a community of future well-qualified, open-minded, life-skilled and with international experience professionals. We will facilitate credit transfer and the recognition of stays abroad by ECTS and the Europass Mobility Document. The teachers who participate in a mobility program will benefit from the knowledge and experience of teachers in institutions of Higher Education in other European countries or the skills acquired in companies and will be able to promote the exchange of expertise and experience on different pedagogical methods.

 

 

 OUR INSTITUTION STRATEGY FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION PROJECTS IN TEACHING AND TRAINING IN RELATION TO PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE PROGRAMME.

 

            Our HEI is willing to create strategic partnerships and knowledge alliances to get to know other institutions of higher education and companies among themselves so as to promote creativity, innovation and to strengthen entrepreneurial spirit.

             We will implement the programme of student training and student/teaching staff exchange according to the principles of the Erasmus Programme by means of:

 -         Transparent selection procedure based on language and grades criteria.

-         The application of ECTS (it is automatic for successful internships) as the credit transfer and accumulation system to give transparency to the procedures.

-         Learning agreements with the students on the work programmes related to the students’ academic profiles.

-         Providing linguistic preparation for mobile staff and students.

-         Keeping academic and organizational contact with the partner institutions or organizations.

-         Provision of services and academic advice to students and staff.

-         Monitoring of outgoing students and certifying that those doing internships    have fulfilled all requirements stipulated in the Learning Agreement.

-         Facilitating and acknowledging Erasmus teaching activities abroad.

-         Recognizing the mobility periods abroad with the Europass Mobility Document.

 

   

EXPECTED IMPACT OF OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMME ON THE MODERNISATION OF OUR INSTITUTION

 

1.    Increasing attainment levels to provide the type of graduates and researchers Europe needs

     ERASMUS is successful since this student mobility programme contributes to the development of an integrated European labour market.

     The Erasmus Chart enables individuals at all stages of their lives to pursue stimulating learning and working opportunities across Europe. This training programme emphasises student and staff mobility and European cooperation involving enterprises and other institutions. Our institution expects to achieve Our target goal is increasing labour market mobility within Europe.

 

2.    Improving the quality and relevance of higher education.

     Student mobility means to enhance the quality of the educational experience and the international learning outcomes of the students. This programme will help to improve the quality in VET Studies by facilitating chances for mobilities and providing new contacts with other realities in the same fields of study. The experience in companies improves their future working careers, the structure of the stays according to the learning results and its integration within their qualifications allows the total academic recognition and facilitates the moving from vocational training to other types of higher education.

 

     He mobility of teachers to other companies as well as to other vocational training centers has a clear impact on the updating of contents and the adoption of more modern ways of teaching.

 

 3.    Strengthening quality through mobility and cross-border co-operation.

     Our institution promotes this kind of mobilities to increase the quality of our studies by involving employers and companies from other countries in the Education system. The cross-border co-operation may open new and different points of view in our fields of study. We will ensure the efficient recognition of abroad gained credits. Erasmus procedures are often also extended to other international mobility programmes and therefore benefiting non-erasmus students. Students with international experience are more likely to persist in higher education and to develop stronger life skills as well as better articulated job aspirations.

 

4.    Linking higher education, research and business for excellence and regional development.

     This programme will enable our staff and students stay in touch with other institutions and companies linking VET studies with research and business. Students will finish their studies with a general overview about the European labour market and about the real work possibilities. Students’ reasons for participation in the programme are primarily for personal development: for the opportunity to live abroad, meet new people, acquire the so called “soft skills”, but also to improve foreign language skills.

 

5.    Improving governance and funding.

     Access to alternative sources of funding will be encouraged. Financial constraints are an important factor that restricts Erasmus participation. Since one of our aims is to take the European Programme to less favoured sectors, other contributions will be further encouraged.