Partners

UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI / University of Warsaw (Poland)

Website: www.uw.edu.pl

Founded in 1816 the University of Warsaw (UniW) is the largest and, according to the Shanghai Ranking also the best higher education establishment in Poland - among the top 4% of the world’s best universities. The university has big potential in terms of science, research and human resources. UW offers studies in several dozen of fields of arts and sciences at 1 and 2 cycle programmes, as well as at the integrated Master programmes, for post-graduate students and PhD students. The total number of students exceeds 53 thousand. University of Warsaw recognizes doctoral studies as one of its priority activities and it pursues the aim of providing PhD students with the training of high quality and expending its pool of PhD studies programmes offered in English resulting in single or joint doctorates in partnership with European or non-European higher education establishments.

In March 2018 University of Warsaw became a member of the 4EU+ European University Alliance consisting of 7 European comprehensive research-intensive Universities cooperationg closely to develop a barrier-free and continuously deepening ooperation in education, research and innovation within the Alliance. The multidisciplinary research profiles units at the UW include the Centre of New Technologies, Centre of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Centre for Preclinical Research as well as DELAB – a research unit conducting interdisciplinary research on the transformation related to the development of information and communication technologies and drawing up solutions in the scope of the effective application of new technologies in the economy and society in Poland and the Central and Eastern Europe, with particular consideration given to: comprehensive strengthening of ICT application in the society and economy, improvement of adaptation and innovative capabilities of companies, supporting the development of innovative entrepreneurship, development of educational skills and solutions needed for the professions of the future, identification of the necessary structural reforms and institutional transformation as well as supporting the development of the respective public policies.

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CATANIA / University of Catania (Italy)

Website: www.unict.it

The University of Catania (Italian: Università degli Studi di Catania) is the oldest University in Sicily, the 13th oldest in Italy and the 29th oldest in the world. With a population of over 40,000 students, it’s one of the main University in Sicily. Following the Italian Higher Education reform introduced by the law 240/10 and adopted by the University of Catania in its new Statute, Faculties have been disactivated and Departments have been reorganized. The University of Catania is handled today by 17 Departments and 2 Didactic Units that, additionally to the traditional assignments of scientific research, are in charge of the organization and management of educational activities.

In addition, a higher education centre (Italian: Scuola Superiore di Catania) has founded in 1998 to select the best young minds and offer them a degree program based on analysis, research, and experimentation.

The Department of Educational Sciences (DISFOR) carries out research activities congruent with its multi-faceted composition, in terms of the subject areas that make it up, as well as with its specific mission of teaching, training, and being linked to the territory. The main research areas (Pedagogical, Psychological, Sociological Archaeological, Economic-legal, Philosophical, Linguistic-literary, Medical-health, and Historical-geographical), whose objectives are strictly linked to the teaching aims in the Department, are represented by groups and sub-groups developing different but complementary lines of research. The apparent heterogeneity of subject areas gives the Department added value from a multidisciplinary perspective, as the Department serves a double mission: to train (undergraduate, postgraduate and specialization courses, as well as refresher training for staff) and to operate in the territory through socially useful research-based activities, as many agreements, concluded with groups requiring support and counselling programmes.

VILNIAUS KOLEGIJA / University of Applied Sciences of Vilnius (Lithuania)

Website: www.viko.lt

Vilniaus kolegija/University of Applied Sciences (VIKO) is the largest accredited higher professional education institution in Lithuania, which was founded in 2000 merging 8 schools of higher education. VIKO has 460 qualified educators, 60 of whom are Doctors of Science (PhD) and around 6700 students on 45 study programmes in 7 faculties: Electronics and Informatics, Economics, Business Management, Health Care, Pedagogic, Arts and Creative Technologies and Agrotechnologies. Six study programmes are carried out in English. The duration of full-time studies are 3 - 3,5 years. The university is the only higher education institution in Lithuania, which has been awarded with the diploma of the Knowledge Economy Forum for innovations. Apart from basic studies short-time refresher courses are offered. Every year the study programmes are being revised to respond to current social and economic requirements of labor market, the society needs.

VIKO offers a dynamic atmosphere – exiting, forward-thinking environment and the local, national and international community. Internationalization is one of VIKO’s priority areas that is why all the faculties are actively involved in various projects. The University aims at promoting all possible mobilities providing students with the best opportunities to study at foreign education institutions and finding placements in companies abroad, as well as opening prospects for teachers to enhance their competence through staff trainings and international research projects, to exchange knowledge and experience with colleagues from different countries. Every year more than 200 students spend their international semesters studying or having placements abroad.

VIKO is one of the top 10 institutions in Lithuania according to students’ and teachers’ international mobility. In relation to improving the quality and relevance of higher education VIKO constantly updates curricula as per market needs. Social partners have a strong role in the study process participating in the curricula development, in the committees for final project evaluation, etc. Together with partners new study programmes are being developed. The university graduates tracking and Alumni section creation will give further possibilities to be in alliance with the changing needs in wider economy.

PAX Rhodopica Foundation (Bulgaria)

Website: https://paxrhodopica.eu/

PAX Rhodopica Foundation is a Bulgarian NGO working actively in the field of European cooperation in education and training, including vocational training. PAX was established in 2016 with the main aim to support the sustainable development of businesses and communities through encouragement of entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation, creativity and vocational training.

PAX is focused on development and implementation of project initiatives on local, national and EU level that aim:

• to support personal and professional competences development and life-long learning;
• to foster the enhancement of competences of university academia incl. professors, assistants, researchers, PhD candidates, etc.;
• to encourage dialogue and cooperation in intercultural and multicultural environment;
• to motivate the business to adopt greener and more sustainable approaches incl. promotion of blue & green economy, circular economy, corporate social responsibility concept, etc.;
• to raise awareness in the business sector and among local communities on the needs for more environment-friendly behaviour;
• to encourage sustainable agriculture and transition towards organic and clean production;
• to promote environment-friendly and sustainable tourism and responsible management of touristic business and services;
• to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among young people and disadvantaged groups, through mentoring programmes, start-up support and networking;
• to design, develop and deliver training and mentoring programmes for the benefit of their stakeholders.

Being set up in Smolyan, a mountain region in Bulgaria with mixed population, other main focus of PAX is to develop and introduce different approaches for increasing the social inclusion in the region, enhancement of the economic potential and closing the significant gaps of the region development in comparison to the larger cities in Bulgaria.

TARAS SHEVCHENKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF KYIV (Ukraine)

Website: www.univ.kiev.ua

Founded in 1834, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (TSNUK) is Ukraine’s largest national higher education institution and recognized as one of its most prestigious. For almost two centuries, the University has combined quality education and modern science, tradition and innovation. The university has a long history of achievement and excellence, and is the University of Choice for the many gifted students who in turn receive the opportunity to become leaders in their fields, professions and in public life.

TSNUK is today a classic university with a distinct research profile, and the leading contemporary academic and educational hub of Ukraine. The high status of a classical research University is underpinned by the numerous academic achievements of its staff. The staff at the University have a broad range of formal achievements recognized. The University awards Junior Specialist’s, Bachelor’s, Specialist’s and Master’s degrees, Higher Qualification Postgraduate degrees and Doctoral degrees. Training and retraining programs are provided in 14 specialties of Junior Specialist qualification, 55 fields of Bachelor training programs, 49 areas of Specialist training programs and 98 fields of Master training programs. More than 26 thousand students study at the University. There are 13 Faculties within the University. There are 8 Institutes (the Military Academy, the High Technology Centre, the Institute of Journalism, the Institute of Geology, the Institute of International Relations, the Postgraduate Education Centre, the Institute of Linguistics, and the State Security Department) and 1 Training and Research Center (the Institute of Biology), 2 Colleges (Optical and Mechanical College, Geological Exploring College), Ukrainian Physical and Mathematical Lyceum.

TSNUK occupies leading positions in international rankings among higher education institutions in Ukraine and is among the TOP 50 universities in Eastern Europe. Among the graduates of Shevchenko University are well-known scientists and statesmen, including two presidents of Ukraine.