TWE+ Closing Conference: Tomorrow’s innovation for a truly European teaching experience | After the conference

15 July 2021 | From UNICA

In November 2018, the Teach with Erasmus+ project (TWE+) was launched with the aim to broaden knowledge and provide a more comprehensive understanding of academic staff mobility as well as to tackle the challenges linked to the quality of the mobility of academics and support the academic staff wishing to pursue international mobility. 

After two and a half years of work, the TWE+ team UNICA is a member of proudly presented the results and findings at the closing online conference, “Tomorrow’s innovation for a truly European teaching experience”, on 2 July 2021. 

The welcome of Imre Hamar, Vice-Rector of International Affairs at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE, project coordinator) was followed by the keynote speech of Nadia Manzoni, Team Leader of the Erasmus+ Programme for Higher Education, DG for Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture, who focused on the horizontal priorities of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 i.e. inclusivity, environment, and digitalisation. 

For those who did not closely follow the project, Krisztina Kovàcs, international coordinator at ELTE, gave a brief overview of the goals and the main successes of the collaboration of the five partners, namely ELTE, UNICA (the Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe), EUF (European University Foundation), Universidad de Alcalá, and Université La Salle Beauvais.

After this introduction, László Horváth, assistant professor at ELTE, presented the research, which analysed the motivating and hindering factors of going to teaching mobility. These findings set the basis for the document “Quality & Impact Tool for Teaching Mobility Assessment”, which is addressed to both higher education institutions (HEIs) and academics. Moreover, László shared the outcomes of the online training held between January and March to enhance the teaching mobility experience. 

The “Catalogue of Pedagogical Tools and Methods” and the interactive event “Innovative Methodologies for mobile academics” held on 3 June 2021 have been presented by Sébastien Ottavi, pedagogical engineer and teacher at UniLaSalle, who introduced the structure and the content of the catalogue and highlighting some of the most interesting and innovative examples to be used by teachers. 

After a well-deserved coffee break, the new Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility Platform (ETMP) has been revealed. Anikó Makkai-Kovács (policy and research officer) and Kilian Klein (senior software engineer), EUF, presented and explained the functionalities of the platform, which serves to provide an online place for mobile academics and HEIs, where they can search and offer teaching or training mobility opportunities. 

Last but not least, Viki Csonka, project officer at UNICA, delivered an interactive presentation about the final project output “Policy recommendations on effectively promoting teaching mobility in Europe”, which addresses European and national policymakers, HEIs and academic individuals to support them overcoming existing barriers of mobility, and looks at mobility through the lenses of sustainability, digitalisation and inclusion. Curious about what the audience thinks about this issue? 

Closing remarks have been delivered by Péter Tordai, Deputy Director for Mobility at ELTE, who summarised the highlights of the event and shared some further reflections on the future of teaching mobility.

Did you miss the conference? Watch it now!

All these outputs and further materials are available on the TWE+ website: https://teachwitherasmus.eu. 

Want to find a mobility opportunity? Create your profile on ETMP now!

Want to make your classes more interactive? Learn more about the tools & methods!

Want to get prepared for your mobility? Check our recommendations!