2020 CG High-Level Webinar on Education Policy, online:“Challenges and future of internationalisation in the European Knowledge Area”
3-4 December 2020
The High-Level Webinar on Education took place on 3rd – 4th December 2020, on the topic “Challenges and future of internationalisation in the European Knowledge Area”.
The Coimbra Group ambitions to play a proactive role in the discussions that will shape the European Knowledge Area (“EKA”), drawing on the education- and research-led profile of its 41 member universities, and also on its network-wide expertise in the field of physical mobility as well as collaborative and online teaching accumulated since the very beginning to the Erasmus experience.
Our recent Report on “Practices at Coimbra Group Universities in response to COVID-19” together with our Position Paper on the Digital Education Plan pointed out the crucial need to foster a multi-scale reflection on the mid- and long-term perspectives of academic mobility (students, teachers, researchers) and teaching innovation: from the viewpoints of students and teachers, but also of university managers, as well as national and European policymakers.
Without diminishing the irreplaceable and central role of physical mobility of students, academics (teachers and researchers), and staff in the building of the EKA, the Coimbra Group will now undertake a systematic assessment of the recent experiences and initiatives concerning Virtual Exchange (VE) and innovative online tools and activities (incl. courses).
This High Level Webinar on Education Policy took the first decisive steps in this direction via
1) a review of the current trends in collaborative forms of VE and innovative teaching,
2) a multi-scale analysis and
3) concrete recommendations on their future implementation and roll-out.
This webinar continues the annual tradition of Coimbra Group high-level policy seminars addressing issues of key concerns in, alternately, education and research policies.
Wrap-up Summary and Key Takings from the sessions
Presentations
Session 1: Review of challenges and opportunities
- Jürgen Barkhoff, Trinity College Dublin, Executive Board Vice-Chair
- Ben Williamson, University of EdinburghCritical approaches to the ‘digital transformation’ of higher educationBen Williamson – script
- Robert O’Dowd, University of LeónVirtual Exchange in the new EC Communications and programmesRob ODowd – key links
- Francesca Helm, University of Padova, Chair of the Education Innovation Working Group
- Dorota Maciejowska, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Chair of the Academic Exchange and Mobility Working Group
Session 2: Building concrete solutions via institutional innovations
- Danny Donoghue, Durham University, Executive Board Member
- Benchmarking international outlook of Coimbra Group universities
- Sara Laginder, Uppsala UniversityReaction to long-term challenges for mobility posed by the pandemic
- Stefania Mellera, University of PaviaCareer services’ adaptations in face of the new situation generated by COVID19
Session 3: Building concrete solutions via collaborative innovations
- Lenka Rovná, Charles University in Prague, Executive Board Member
- Stanisław Kistryn, Vice-Rector, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Una EuropaExample of innovative solutions developed at the level of Una Europa
- Dorothy Kelly, Vice-Rector, University of Granada, ArqusExample of innovative solutions developed at the level of Arqus
- Dana Samson, Vice-Rector, Catholic University of Louvain & Berit Eika, Pro-Rector, Aarhus University, Circle U.
Example of innovative solutions developed at the level of Circle U.
Session 4: Recommendations for the future of mobility and internationalisation in the
European Knowledge Area
- Ludovic Thilly, University of Poitiers, Executive Board Chair
- Sophia Eriksson-Waterschoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+, European Commission
- Dirk Van Damne, Senior Counsellor, OECD Directorate for Education and SkillsProspects for Mobility and Internationalization
Dirk Van Damne – key links - Cisca Wijmenga, Rector, University of Groningen
- Eva Åkesson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Uppsala
- Beatrix Busse, Vice-Rector, University of Cologne
- Kostis Giannidis, President, Erasmus Student Network