Proposal of joint european project CHAIN-E

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Directorate-General XXII - Education, Training and Youth

Tempus Tacis
application form for a
Mobility Joint European Project
for the Russian Federation

beginning in November 1998

SECTION I: DECLARATION

We enclose documentation confirming that the other consortium members in the project have endorsed the content of the application.

Name of the coordinating institution: University of Ghent (Belgium).....................................................................

Name of the Coordinator:...................................................... Name of the legal representative:......................................

Mrs. Lieve Bracke...................................................................... Prof. Jacques Willems.............................................................

Function: Director International Relations Office............... Function: Rector......................................................................

Done at: the University of Ghent............................................ Done at: the University of Ghent.........................................

Date:............................................................................................. Date:..........................................................................................

Signature:..................................................................................... Signature...................................................................................

Official stamp or seal of the coordinating institution

SECTION II: BASIC DATA ON THE PROJECT

Title:

C reation of the H igher A cademic I nternational N etwork for E conomists (CHAIN-E)

Specific objective:

Creation of a mobility network for students in economics based on internationalised curricula in the field of financial and industrial management, banking and insurance.

In which language do you wish to receive future correspondence?:

English French German

Subject Area Code: 240 (Economics)

Project Coordinator (contact person at the coordinating and contracting institution):

Title: Mrs. First name: Lieve..................................... Last name: Bracke.................................................

Sex: M F

Name of the institution: University of Ghent

Name of the department or faculty: International Relations Office

Address: Het Pand, Onderbergen 1

Country: Belgium.......................................... Post code: 9000.................... Town: Ghent

Phone: 32/9/264.82.38................................. Fax: 32/9/264.83.99............ E-mail: Lieve.Bracke@rug.ac.be

Higher education institutions involved in the MJEP

Reference number: 1 - Coordinator Contact person: Lieve Bracke

Name of the institution: University of Ghent

Reference number: 2 - Second higher education institution Contact person: Igor Kolobkov

Name of the institution: Ural State Vocational Pedagogic University (USVPU)

Name of the department or faculty: Institute of Economics and Law (USVPU), Institute of Municipal Economy and Enterpreneurship.

Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country code: RF

Phone: 7/3432/31.23.52............................... Fax: 7/3432/31.94.63.......... E-mail: Igor.Kolobkov@usvpu.ru .................

Reference number: 3 - Third higher education institution Contact person: Andrey Maltsev

Name of the institution: Ural State University of Economics

Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Finance; Faculty of Trade and Economics; Faculty of Economics; Faculty of Management and International Economic Relations.

Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country code: RF

Phone: 7/3432/22.96.15............................... Fax: 7/3432/22.71.47.......... E-mail: Valentin.Kamyshov@usue.ru

Reference number: 4 - Fourth higher education institution Contact person: Darya Nesterova

Name of the institution: Ural State University

Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics.

Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country code: RF

Phone: 7/3432/55.21.65............................... Fax: 7/3432/55.59.64.......... E-mail: Darya.Nesterova@usu.ru

Reference number: 5 - Fifth higher education institution Contact person: Oleg Nikonov

Name of the institution: Ural State Technical University

Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics and Management.

Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country code: RF

Phone: 7/3432/74.84.26............................... Fax: 7/3432/74.38.84.......... E-mail: postmaster@rcupi.e-burg.su

Reference number: 6 - Sixth higher education institution Contact person: Boris Igoshev

Name of the institution: Ural State Pedagogical University

Name of the department or faculty: Faculty of Economics.

Town: Ekaterinburg................................................................... Country code: RF

Phone: 7/3432/34.13.01............................... Fax: 7/3432/34.97.71.......... E-mail: Elena@sgpi.e-burg.su

Reference number: 7 - Seventh higher education institution Contact person:..........................................................

Name of the institution: “X” university of the Santander Group..............................................................................................

Name of the department or faculty:..............................................................................................................................................

Town:........................................................................................... Country code:..........................................................................

Phone:.............................................................. Fax:......................................... E-mail:.................................................................

Reference number: 8 - eighth higher education institution Contact person:..........................................................

Name of the institution: “Y” university of the Santender Group..............................................................................................

Name of the department or faculty:..............................................................................................................................................

Town:........................................................................................... Country code:..........................................................................

Phone:.............................................................. Fax:......................................... E-mail:.................................................................

SECTION III: THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROJECT

SECTION IV: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

IV.1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

* Tempus priorities

The project will be implemented in the Urals - one of the major economic regions of Russia, which has a huge industrial, academic and scientific potential.

Today one of the most important tasks is the provision of skilled personnel for realization of this potential. Of special importance here is the preparation of qualified experts who are capable of solving most complicated problems on the development of market relations in conditions of continued reforming of market economy. The present project should facilitate the solution of this task.

The public authorities of the Ural Region see great importance in the development of financial and industrial management, banking and insurance. The solution of the given task is complicated by the shortage of qualified experts with higher education. The field of business is new to the Russian Federation. Therefore, the system of economic education in the country and, in particular, in the Urals needs to be enriched with the foreign experience of education in these subject domains.

Thus, the problem of economic education at the universities of the Urals completely falls within the framework of the priorities set by the Tempus program in Russia.

Deriving from this, economics (code 240) was chosen as the priority subject sphere.

This subject area also was chosen because the possibility and advantage of the universities-participants satisfy its requirements. Each participating university has its faculties and/or institutes preparing students to economic and management specialities.

The given project, devoted mainly to the creation of a network for student mobility, includes also:

· elements of teaching staff retraining;

· introduction of new information technological methods into educational process;

· intensive language preparation;

· development of distance learning.

* Previous cooperation

During 1994-98 a consortium of 4 Ural universities was established in the Urals. And it still continues functioning:

· the Ural State Vocational Pedagogical University (USVPU);

· the Ural State University (USU);

· the Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU);

· the Ural State Technical University (USTU).

The consortium was created for solving joint tasks in the field of improvement of the university management, educational activity in subject spheres and scientific research. The consortium has been functioning as a structure within the framework of bilateral and multilateral agreements with the University of Ghent (Belgium) in carrying out the following projects:

· URAL-MANAG (university management)

A foundation was laid for international activity of the Ural universities. A coordinating center for managing international activities in the region was created.

· URAL-NET (development of interuniversity computer communications)

As a result of interaction of the given project with other similar projects the universities of the consortium had an opportunity to access the global computer network Internet.

· URAL-INFO (information technologies in learning)

A base of relevant materials and facilities was created, information technologies are mastered, the teaching staff and programmers are trained to be able to introduce new information technologies in the educational process.

· URAL-LAN (language preparation)

The modern Language Center has been established. The Center was supplied with the newest equipment. The technology of intensive foreign language teaching is mastered. Regular teaching of the staff and students of the consortium universities take place.

· URAL-ECON (teaching and research in the field of economics)

The existing curricula were modified and new courses were developed.

· URAL-DISTANCE (development of distant methods of learning on the example of economic education)

A special course was given by Prof. Pasmiller. Workshops were held with a participation of the Ural State University representatives and the Ghent University ones.

· URAL-ELECTRO (teaching and research in the field of electric power industry)

The technology of internationalized curricula development, procedure of their coordination and introduction in the educational process was elaborated.

· URAL-METAL (teaching and research in the field of metallurgy)

· URAL-LIT (teaching and research in the field of literature)

· URAL-LEX (teaching and research in the field of comparative lexicography)

The positive experience of international cooperation in the domain of higher education was obtained.

The indicated outcomes visually testify, that they are directly connected to the objectives and tasks of the stated project and completely correspond to the Tempus priorities. It is possible to consider the given project to be a continuation of joint activities of the Ural consortium.

Besides, in 1994-98 Tempus/Tacis activities were jointly carried out by the universities of Ghent (Belgium), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Valladolid (Spain) and the USVPU. In the course of implementation of the URAL project: Upgrading of Regional Academic Level T‑JEP‑10094‑95‑RF four structural subdivisions were created in the USVPU for the realization and management of international activities:

· Regional Office for International Cooperation (RO);

· Information Network Centre (INC);

· Language Centre (LC);

· Regional Centre for Student Exchanges (Vagant Centre) (VC).

The activities of these subdivisions are of a regional character and are extended to the other universities of the Ural consortium. The Regional Office for International Cooperation assists in the teaching staff and student mobility organization. The Language Centre provides language preparation of the trainees from different universities. The Regional Centre for Student Exchanges has developed mechanisms and procedures of student exchanges, ways of realization of credit transfer, a method of definition of student workloads and credit allocation, has instructed the ECTS-coordinators appointed at the consortium universities, has mastered and disseminated the technology of producing information packages. The VC provides informational and organizational support for student mobility. The Information Network Centre provides the subdivisions with communication means, with access to local and global electronic networks.

The administrative and academic staff of all the consortium universities have been trained in activity domains of the above-mentioned subdivisions at the universities of Ghent (Belgium), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Valladolid (Spain) and other European universities.

The Ural State University for Economics (USUE) joining the consortium (as a 5th member) in 1994/98 has established a number of partner connections with some European universities and institutes. The University has already acquired a certain experience before joining in the new project. Among them: Student and teachers exchanges procedures, language training, coordination of educational programs, creation of joint teaching materials, academic recognition of study results, agreements for rendering educational services, management of international cooperation. Student exchanges were conducted with Marburg University, Cologne University, Munich University (Germany), Higher educational commercial schools of Po and Lyons Cities (France). Teachers exchanges were conducted between USUE and Technical University of Roitlingen (Germany), Utrecht University (the Netherlands), London Economics School and NorthWestern College of London (GB).

At the present time all 5 Ural universities have their own offices for the international cooperation. It is seemed that their presence will be helpfull for the new project fulfilment.

* Links with other programs

The described Tempus JEP “URAL” is obviously directly connected with the objectives and tasks of the proposed project, which can be considered as its natural sequel. The achieved outcomes can be significantly multiplied in the course of implementation of a new possible project to influence not only the Ural Region but also the educational system of Russia, which will allow to use the Tempus funds with a maximum efficiency.

Some positive experience was accumulated also during the international project "Distance Learning in the Economic Zone of the Urals" ww.91.05/01.01/BO41, which was carried out by the USVPU in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Foreign Trade. In the course of the project more than 300 workers for small business were prepared with the distance learning method. This experience also will be used in the execution of the stated project.

It is very important that, the USVPU heads the Association for Scientific Research and Educational Methods in Vocational Education (ASREM/VE), which unites more than 130 educational institutions in Russia. The ASREM/VE meets the problems of development of State education standards of higher and secondary vocational education and preparation of normative documents for a multilevel educational system (bachelor and masters' courses). The ASREM/VE can really affect the system of education in Russia, besides it has a possibility to provide official recognition of the mechanisms and procedures of educational degrees award. The education internationalization process in the USVPU and other universities of the Ural consortium has a real chance to be expanded within the institutions of the ASREM/VE because the USVPU leads the educational policy in the Association.

In USU together with Moscow state university the preparation of masters is carried on in the field of an economic theory. Together with St.-Petersburg state university scientific and research work is carried on in the field of the international economic relations. With the foreign partners, for example, with Technical university of Munich (Germany) the research projects on a theme " International economy of the firm", and with University of state Illinois (USA) a common theme of researches " Market of labor " are executed.

In USTU on faculties of the Analysis of systems and decision making and banking researches are conducted within the framework of the regional programme financed by the regional budget of Sverdlovsk region of the theme of the state budget N 2980 "Mathematical and computer modeling of economic-organizing systems "; grants of Ministry of Education of Russian Federation N 2992 "Theory and methodology of an evaluation of efficiency of the investments on the basis of mathematical methods of the theory of management (section economy) and N 97-0-1.9.68 "Theory of the guaranteed management and evaluation in the tasks of financial mathematics ", and also are supported by the grant of Russian fund of fundamental researches (PFBR) N 97-01-01003.

USPU during many years participates in economic programmes of Sverdlovsk region on creation of economic culture in market conditions. Joint work by the grant with North-East Illinois university (USA) on the programme "Economic, social and cultural initiative. Russian-American partnership " USA N IA-AFJL-J4190526 was executed.

Within two last years USUE has received positive experience of exchange of the students with university of Visbaden (Germany), and also with other mentioned before universities on a specialty « World economy ». These programs of students' exchanges of USUE are directly connected with the stated project, as have the common objectives of creation of stable channels of students' mobility on the base of agreed educational programs in the field of economy.

IV.2. OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

2.1. Objective

In general the objective of the project is to make the student mobility possible and to update the content of higher economic education, its methods and forms of teaching with the help of international cooperation in this area what will promote the development of market relations in Russia and its integration in the world economic community.

The improvement of higher economic education should be realized by its adaptation to the European education dimensions. Russian economic education has not sufficient experience of operating in market conditions therefore the students trained do not always correspond to the requirements of the new market conditions. The solution of this problem can be reached as one of the outcomes of international cooperation in the field of economic education. Such cooperation is inevitably connected with students and teachers exchanges, with problems of development of joint professional education programs, with problems of academic recognition of educational degrees and diplomas.

The outlined problems in the field of economic education allow to formulate the specific objective of the project: "Creation of a mobility network for students in economics based on internationalised curricula in the field of financial and industrial managament, banking and insurance for making the student mobility possible and for upgrading of education quality". Such a constantly functioning network will allow not only to accumulate and generalize the experience of teaching the students, but also to prepare the background for scientific exchange. Doubtlessly, in the course of student exchanges the growth of the staff participating in the development of internationalized educational programs will also be ensured. To achieve this objective it is necessary to set the following tasks:

· Strengthening of the existing and creation of new organizational structures dealing with student exchanges;

· Development of internationalized curricula and joint short-term internationalized educational programs;

· Development of new and improvement of the existing procedures of recognition of the results of abroad study courses;

· Realization of student exchanges;

· Analysis, generalization and dissemination of the experience obtained;

· Taking special measures to provide the stability and sustainability of the network created.