UNiversity Cooperation Framework for Knowledge Transfer in Central Asia and China (UNICAC)

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  • UNiversity Cooperation Framework for Knowledge Transfer in Central Asia and China (UNICAC)

UNiversity Cooperation Framework for Knowledge Transfer in Central Asia and China (UNICAC). Project is funded by Erasmus+. Period of Implementation 2018-2021 years.

Coordinator:  Javlonbek Abdujalilov, Head of International Relations Department.

Mob: +998998032912

Email: javlontuit@gmail.com

Website: http://unicac.eu/

About the project

Funded by the European Commission through the KA2 – Capacity Building for Higher Education action of the Erasmus+ programme, UNICAC will have a duration of 3 years and be implemented between 15th January 2019 and 14th January 2022.

The project aims to increase the potentials for international and cross- regional cooperation of HEIs in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China trough a set of capacity building activities for International Relations Offices (IROs), thus contributing to better international networking, enhancement and better exploitation of their potentials for cooperation in Teaching, Learning and Research (T/L/R).

 Project actions will address the benchmarking of potentials and development of national and regional recommendations for international cooperation; the enhancement of strategic, human and infrastructural capacities for the management of International Relations in participating HEIs as a model for the modernisation and development of institutional frameworks for International Relations in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China; and the development of a multi-regional network as a platform for a regular dialogue, and identification and exploitation of synergies in shaping International Relations in HEIs in central Asia and China.

Its Consortium is composed of 11 institutions, of 3 are partner institutions from EU countries (Spain, Italy and Finland) and which 7 are Universities from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China.

Objectives

  • Benchmarking, identification of potentials, and development of national recommendations for international cooperation in T/L/R in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China
  • Enhancement of strategic, infrastructural and human capacities in 7 non-European universities as a model for the modernisation and development of institutional management of International Relations in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China
  • Development of a cross- regional network for a structure dialogue on internationalisation, transfer and promotion of HEIs in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China

Project objectives will be attained through carefully planned actions at institutional, national and international level.

EXPECTED RESULTS

  • Implementation of strategic and managerial training and updating of International Relations Offices’ infrastructures within the institutions involved
  • Development of comparative analysis, as well as National and Cross- Regional Recommendations
  • Creation of 1 Best Practices book and 1 Toolkit Manual seeking the enhancement of international cooperation policies and management in HEIs
  • Development of the UNICAC network for international cooperation
  • Design of Strategic Plans for International Cooperation in the participating universities of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China
  • Development of the UNICAC Cooperation Framework for international mobility and cooperation
  • Implementation of mobility actions targeting students and professors in order to test the results (pilot test)

WP1 - POLICY AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR CROSS- REGIONAL COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONALISATION IN HEI

The objective of WP1 is to equip Partner Countries (PC) HEIs with solid strategic expertise in the development and implementation of coherent institutional internationalisation cooperation policies. The main result of WP1 will be the definition, revision and adaptation of Strategic Plans for International Cooperation (SPIC) in the involved PC HEIs, including considerations of their needs and local context, internationalisation potentials and goals, definition of success indicators and remedial actions.

WP2 - HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS STAFF

The objective of WP2 is to provide the staff of PC IROs (technical coordinators and technicians) with managerial expertise and specific skills in several thematic areas related to the efficient administration of IRO and development of IR and IC policies and services. This will be achieved by specific training prepared and delivered by EU HEI staff members participating in the project.

WP3 - DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIALS FOR INTERNATIONALISATION IN TEACHING/LEARNING/RESEARCH (T/L/R)

The objective of WP 3 is to foster internationalisation in T/L/R and show the benefits of opening HEI to international experiences in these essential aspects of the lives of HEI. The core of activities foreseen will take place during Y2, because it is assumed that the human capacity building under WP2 is finished. As we plan to give a positive and practical orientation to the approach to this WP, we have planned a pilot cooperation and coaching by EU partners during Y2 and Y3.

WP4 - INFRASTRUCTURAL MEASURES

WP4 includes infrastructure up-grading in the PC IROs with the necessary equipment and also the development of a Libraries’ , which is a highly cost-efficient and effective mean to get a free access to existing national and international research sources and databases.

WP5 - CROSS-REGIONAL NETWORK FOR INTERNATIONALISATION AND COOPERATION

The creation of a Cross- Regional Network for Internationalisation and Cooperation is a leading objective of this proposal. The network should serve as a platform for a multi-regional and international dialogue about the international cooperation in Higher Education, provide opportunities for finding synergies between its members and strengthen ties.
The establishment of the network will start early in the project with the overall definition of its mission and membership policy. Also it is foreseen the establishment of a permanent Network Secretariat.

WP6 - QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

Quality control will be an integral part of the project in order to ensure that objectives are met in the most effective way. This will be achieved through the implementation of the following activities.

WP7 - DISSEMINATION

To guarantee the high potential for multiplication and to disseminate the project results at institutional, national and international levels, dissemination activities are an integral part of the project and will be implemented from the very beginning. The project foresees multiple awareness raising actions both internally (at the level of the involved institutions) and externally (national and international level).
Particular attention has been paid to the dissemination actions at national level of the PC in order to ensure that the impact of the project goes beyond the institutions directly involved. In relation to this and regarding the special nature of the project, quite a large part of activities is integrated within the Development and Sustainability WP (e.g. Network activities and conferences, several national roundtables).

WP8 - SUSTAINABILITY

WP8 is devoted to actions supporting and ensuring long-term maintenance of project results. While several actions supporting sustainability are integrated within the Dissemination and Development WPs, further sustainability and exploitation activities are planned, including the development of National Roundtables in in PC, the final presentation of SPIC and Cross- Regional Cooperation in each PC HEI, the official approval of created IR structures, signing of collaboration agreements and the agreement on the long-term maintenance, functioning, financing and membership of the network.

WP9 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The objective of WP9 is to ensure the smooth strategic and operational project implementation by implementing several measures.