INTERFACE(Developing and setting up measures for

initiating, enhancing and sustaining HigherEducation-Society-Cooperation)PROJECT PRESENTATION

www.ni.ac.rcWorkshop Nis, 20-Oct-2011.

Prof. dr Slobodan Antic, Vice Rector

Contractor and Coordinator –University of Graz

• Contract signatory with the European Commission (GA: 511224 –TEMPUS 1–2010 –1 –AT –TEMPUS –JPHES)

Consortium, EU Partner Universities, Partner

Country University Partners

Consortium• KFU: Contractor and Coordinator• WUS: Co-Coordinator

Partners: EU Partner Universities:• WUW• New Bulgarian University• University of Graz, Austria • University of Liverpool

Partner Country University Partners:• University of Novi Sad• University of Nis• University of Sarajevo• University of Mostar

Partner Country University Partners

• University of Tirana Polytechnic• University of Tirana• University "St Kliment Ohridsky" Bitola• First Private University Skopje• Serbian Unity Congress Serbia• Institute for Strategic Research and Education• Alumnimig MIG• Student Parliament of University of Sarajevo• Student Union University of Mostar• European University Consulting Education Network

Aim of the project

• To ensure that the targeted PC Universities are able to facilitate the graduates’ entrance into the labour market through enhanced partnerships with enterprises, to set up – based on these partnerships – an institutionalised LLL system, and to establish a quality improvement system through coordinated contact with alumni.

INTERFACE has the following 5 specific objectives

• (1) Enhancing the employability of university graduates;

• (2) Ensuring LLL and on the job training for academics;

• (3) Fostering transfer and multiplication of academic knowledge to society;

• (4) Combating brain drain; and• (5) Setting up a continuous learning and quality

improvement system for universities

Outputs

IC centers at each PCU-> main responsible body at each PCU with regard to the universities‘ relations with students about to graduate, with alumni, with enterprises and with society at large3 years business plan to ensure sustainablity of ICs beyond the project period.

Specific objectives

• Enhancing the employability of university graduates

• Ensuring LLL and on the job training for academics

• Fostering transfer and multiplication of academic knowledge to society

• Combating brain drain• Setting up a continuous learning and quality

improvement system for universities

Overall activities

• At each PCU: analysis of already existing activities• Good practice example of EU universities• Strategy at each PCU on how to fill the existing gaps to

enterprises and society at large• Establish Interface Centres at each PCU• The ICs launch their operations through

the‚implementation of a pilot project at each IC• Activities of the IC: career counselling, alumni relations

or LLL• Dissemination: Roadshows, open days, webportal,

visibility package, final conference, local workshops• 3 years business plan for each IC at PCU

Lifelong learning

• According to the European Commission, the scale of currenteconomic and social change, the rapid transition to a knowledgebasedsociety and demographic pressures resulting from an ageingpopulation in Europe are all challenges which demand a newapproach to education and training, within the framework oflifelong learning.

• Lifelong learning is thus defined as:“All learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competence, within a personal civic social and/or employment-related perspective

Career and Employability Services

Some main services of career centres are:• Giving advice, guidance and information• Enhancing employability of graduates• Strengthening skills of students and

graduates that they are able to respond to labour market needs

• Organising job fairs and company presentations

Alumni Activities

Nowadays many universities engage their graduates (alumni) or former students in alumni networks and offer

• Social events and reunions• Mentoring and career support• Newsletters or magazines• Fundraising for the institution• Variety of benefits and services that help alumni maintain

connections to their educational institution and fellow graduates

Work packages – an overview

• 8 Work packages1. DEVELOPMENT: Review & analysis of the existing HE

and society cooperation, brain drain effects and potential countermeasures Month 1-4, Lead: WUS

2. DEVELOPMENT: Develop tailor made „Interface Centre“ (IC) strategy papers Month 5-12, Lead: KFU

3. DEVELOPMENT: Set up ICs at partner country universities Month 13-22, Lead: WUS

4. DEVELOPMENT: Launch the IC’s operations through pilot projects (PP) Month 18-36, Lead: KFU

Work packages – an overview (2)

5. QUALITY PLAN: Monitoring and quality control successfully conducted Month 5-36, Lead: WUS

6. EXPLOITATION: Sustainability of project results assured Month 30-36, Lead: UNSA

7. DISSEMINATION: Awareness raised about results achieved Month 3-36, Lead: WUS

8. MANAGEMENT: Coordination and financial project management successfully conducted Month 1-36, Lead: KFU

Time line of WPs

State of the art DONEs and TO DOsshort and mid term

WP 2 DEVELOPMENT month 5-12 LEAD:KFU

WP 3 Set up ICs at all PCUsDEVELOPMENT month 13-22 LEAD: WUS

WP4: Launch IC operations through PPsDEVELOPMENT month 18-36 Lead: KFU

WP 5 QUALITY PLAN month 5-36 LEAD:WUS

WP 6 EXPLOITATION month 30-36 LEAD:UNSA

WP 7 DISSEMINATION month 3-36 LEAD:WUS

WP 8 MANAGEMENT month 1-36 LEAD:KFU

Reporting

Intermediate ReportWhen 70% of the 1st pre-financing has beendisbursed and not later than half waythrough the eligibility period:• 3 year projects (15/10/10-15/10/13) → 15/04/12Final Report2 months after the end of the eligibilityperiod:• 3 year projects (15/10/10-15/10/13)→ 15/12/13

Meetings

• Kick of Meeting: 17th-18th of March 2011 Graz• Presentation of IC strategies: November 2011

Sarajevo (24.-25.11.2011?)• Consortium meeting: to agree on IC pilot project April

2012, Graz (?)• Final Conference: University of Novi Sad• Workshops: at each PCU to launch IC-strategy

attended by an EU-expert (by 09/2011)• Study visits: new hired IC staff to 4 EU universities (by• 8/2012)

Thank you for your attention!