Mobility and participation in European and international cooperation projects has historically played a key role to the quality of Hellenic Open University (HOU) programmes and services offered, as well as its overall student experience and satisfaction. As such, the University’s involvement in the ERASMUS+ programme is in itself part of its strategy for internationalization and modernization.
Upon being granted the ECHE the Hellenic Open University (HOU) intends to implement the programme through student and staff mobility (both KA103 and KA107), as well as by actively participating in KA2 partnerships for cooperation and exchange of best practices. Our Institution is also highly interested in exploring partnerships for excellence (with a view to joining the European Universities Initiative and/ or pursuing the development of transnational teaching activities – i.e. ERASMUS Mundus Joint Master Degrees), partnerships for innovation and KA3 partnerships to achieve policy development and cooperation.
Through participation in ERASMUS+ 2021- 2027 the HOU plans to build on existing experience in order to harness the programme’s full potential and contribute to paving the way towards a European Education Area. It aims to promote, support and increase KA103 student and staff mobility, offering more members of its academic community (with an emphasis on those with disadvantaged backgrounds and/or fewer opportunities) the chance to spend time abroad, acquiring valuable knowledge and skills while developing a sense of European identity. Special emphasis will be given to traineeships in general and digital traineeships in particular in an effort to meet the ever-growing demand of its student body for gaining work experience abroad, concurrently increasing student satisfaction and employability alike. Institutionalized use of tools such as the Online Linguistic Support platform will continue to contribute to the linguistic advancement and prowess of programme participants. Through it all (considering the nature of the HOU and profile of its students) the University will keep contributing to lifelong learning by giving its working students the opportunity to acquire a degree/ postgraduate specialization and to participate in a multi- beneficial, international experience via the ERASMUS+ programme. A further strategic goal is to respond to current challenges by planning and eventually implementing blended mobility actions, thus extending the impact and benefits of the ERASMUS+ programme to groups with familial and professional obligations.
Through its involvement in KA107 projects the HOU aims to strategically expand its non-EU cooperation, encouraging knowledge transfer and the exchange of best practices, while giving students and staff the opportunity to participate in an international mobility and fulfil their potential as citizens of the world.
By taking part in KA2 partnerships and projects, the HOU hopes to keep working across borders to achieve common objectives and contribute to the further development of European policy cooperation in education, while expanding on existing and establishing new transnational alliances which will promote internationalization, support lifelong learning, professional development and inclusion, further contribute to the modernization of its curricula/ services and help become more involved in Sector Skills and Knowledge Alliances, the European Universities initiative and/ or the development of ERASMUS Mundus Joint Master Degrees.
The HOU will continue its involvement in KA3 projects, aiming at contributing to innovative policy development, policy dialogue and implementation and the exchange of knowledge in the fields of education and training. Through such projects, the HOU will strengthen its role in promoting inclusion and active citizenship, achieving social cohesion and supporting social transformation as well as personal development for each citizen.
Throughout its involvement with the ERASMUS+ project the HOU aims to keep developing its European and international KA1, KA2 and KA3 cooperation, strategically selecting partners on the basis of both European policy and institutional policy (compatible academic profiles, similar quality assurance, equal geographical and subject area distribution) criteria with a view to increasing its future international involvement. It remains committed to maintaining the highest possible quality of mobility for its students and staff, while cooperating closely with other HEI’s, regional authorities, enterprises etc. Institutionalized external quality control procedures will combine with internal evaluation methods (i.e. feedback from participants and partners) to achieve this.
The University further commits to encourage and actively promote use of the ERASMUS+ App by its students, while administratively taking any steps necessary to implement (at least) the minimum level of digital mobility management, in line with the European Student Card Initiative timeline. To that extent, it also commits to promote any learning and traineeship opportunities which will foster the administrative capacity needed for the envisaged ERASMUS Without Paper transition. In doing all of the above it aims to simplify, modernize and streamline mobility making it easier for students and staff while adding to its administrative efficiency and lessening the programme’s environmental footprint.