University of Florence – School of EngineeringInternational Relations Office 1

International Symposium “Innovative Engineering Education and Specialists

Training”Moscow, March 27-28, 2007

The Activities on Enhancing Engineering Education in Europe in

the Framework of Thematic Networks (TN)

Dr. Elisa GubertiHead of the International Relations Office

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Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP)

- took the place of SOCRATES II Programme, for the period 2007-2013

- supports learning opportunities from childhood to old age

- is built on four pillars:1) Comenius – pre-school and school education up to the

secondary education level

2) Erasmus – higher education (including trans-national student placements in enterprise)

3) Leonardo Da Vinci – vocational education and training

4) Grundtvig – active in the field of adult education

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Lifelong Learning Programme: the aims

• to contribute to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion

• to foster interaction, cooperation between education and training systems within the Community, so that they become a world quality reference

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LLP sub-programme: ERASMUS

Seeks to enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of higher education by encouraging transnational cooperation between universities, boosting European mobility and improving the transparency and full academic recognition of studies and qualifications throughout the Union.

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LLP sub-programme: ERASMUS

Targeted at higher education institutions and their students and staff in all 27 Member States of the European Union, the three countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and Turkey.

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LLP sub-programme: ERASMUS

Consists of many different activities:

a) student and teacher exchanges

b) joint development of study programmes

c) international intensive programmes

d) Thematic Networks (TN)

e) language courses (EILC)

f) European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

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The International Relations Office of the School of Engineering, University of Florence is active with a strong participation in the European Programmes such as the LLP/Erasmus Programme, (Student and Teacher exchanges,Thematic Networks, Intensive Programmes etc…) and the Tempus Programme (DEREC, LEPAC, PRO-EAST).

Dealing with Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) and TN

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ERASMUS sub-programme: Thematic Network (TN)

• Created to deal with forward-looking, strategic reflection on the scientific, educational and institutional issues in the main fields of higher education

• A Thematic Network is a co-operation between departments of higher education institutions and other partners (e.g. academic organisations or professional bodies).

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ERASMUS sub-programme: Thematic Network (TN)

The main aim of the programme is to enhance quality and to define and develop a European dimension within a given academic discipline or study area

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ERASMUS sub-programme: Thematic Network (TN)

Interuniversity cooperation and networking among higher education institutions has become a priority for the majority of European engineering schools. The European Commission, DG Education and Culture and EUA are the main carriers and promoters of projects and activities.

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Thematic Network Projects

Some examples of successful Thematic Network Projects managed by The University of Florence – School of Engineering:

• E4 – Enhancing Engineering Education in Europe, 2000-2004, www.unifi.it/tne4

• TREE – Teaching and Research in Engineering in Europe, 2004-2007, www.unifi.it/tree

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E4 – Enhancing Engineering Education in Europe

• Goal: Goal: To enhance the European dimension in Higher Engineering Education

• Countries involvedCountries involved: all 15 EU Member States plus NO, HU, PL, RO, EE, LT, RU and CH (eligible as well as non-eligible countries included)

• Institutions involvedInstitutions involved: 100 Institutions/Organizations, which have signed a bilateral agreement

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E4: General Purposes

to enhance the compatibility of the many diverse routes to the status of Professional Engineer which exist in Europe;

to facilitate greater mobility of skilled personnel and integration of the various situations throughout Europe;

to aim at a best balance between study type activities and experimental ones, so that E4 can be regarded as an experimental laboratory for EE;

to reach all potentially relevant players in EE in Europe through effective dissemination actions;

to involve the professional and industrial organisations directly.

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E4 - Activities

A1:A1: Employability through innovative curriculaEmployability through innovative curricula

a) Identification of the necessary outcomes and a new core and new educational approaches for HEE (undergraduate and post-graduate studies);

b) Promotion of internationalisation and implementation of ECTS and Diploma Supplement.

A2:A2: Quality Assessment and Transparency for Enhanced MobilityQuality Assessment and Transparency for Enhanced Mobility

and Trans-European Recognitionand Trans-European Recognition

a) Establishing lists of “qualification attributes” for engineering graduates, distinct by “branches” (specialties) and “types”;

b) Methodologies of quality control of study courses;

c) Contribute to the development of the recently created permanent Observatory (ESOEPE)

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E4 - Activities

A3: Engineering Professional Development for EuropeA3: Engineering Professional Development for Europea) Collecting examples of good practice in the development of Continuing Education opportunities;

b) Monitoring and building upon actions already established;A4: Enhancing the European DimensionA4: Enhancing the European Dimension

a) Study the structure of European work environment and its perspectives for estimating real needs in the field;

b) Identify tools for introducing international component in HEE;

A5: Innovative Learning and Teaching MethodsA5: Innovative Learning and Teaching Methods

a) Promote internationalisation of new teaching and learning tools;

b) Study the impact of computer assisted learning;

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TREE: Teaching and Research in Engineering in Europe

The results of E4 in particular (collected in a box of 6 volumes plus a CD-rom) constitute the starting point of TREE activities. The results of TREE will be mostly made available in electronic format.

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TREE partners

Totally 110 partners representing the following countries:

1 AT 1 EE 1 IT 4 RO

9 BE 6 ES 2 LT 2 RU

3 BG 4 FI 1 LV 5 SE

4 CH 6 FR 1 MT 1 SI

1 CY 2 GR 2 NL 1 SK

1 CZ 4 HU 2 NO 6 TR

11 DE 2 IE 8 PL 2 UA

4 DK 1 IS 4 PT 8 UK

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Global goal: development of the European dimension in Engineering Education (EE)

To enhance the compatibility of the many diverse routes to the formation of Engineering graduates which exist in Europe in order to facilitate greater mobility of skilled personnel and integration of the various situations throughout Europe

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TN TREE: 4 activity lines

(A) TUNING (B) EDUCATION & RESEARCH

 (C) ENHANCING THEATTRACTIVENESS OF EE(D) SUSTAINABILITY

TREE is structured into many Special Interest Groups (SIG) targeted to specific tools, formed by a limited number of members among

which the Leader of the SIG.Each Line has a Promoter whose task is to stimulate and coordinate

all the SIGs of the line ensuring the good communication between them and the Management Committee

(MC) of TREE. 

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Line ATUNING

Promoter: G. Augusti (Univ. of Roma “La Sapienza”)

• A1 Increasing the quality of the majority – a key challenge • A2 From ECTS to a complete qualification profiling in EE • A3 Inquiry about real needs of industries in international formation • A4 Tools for Quality Assurance and Assessment of EE• A5 Accreditation of EE in Europe• A6 Updating of the Glossary in EE• A7 Guide of Engineering Schools in Europe• A8 Engineering demand and offer in Europe

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Line B EDUCATION & RESEARCH

Promoter: A. Avdelas (Univ. of Thessaloniki)

• B1 Synergies between research and education activities

• B2 Status of doctoral (PhD) studies in engineering in Europe

• B3 Facilitating international projects in team

• B4 Engineering students in European research programmes

• B5 Problem based and project oriented learning 

• B6 Stimulating undergraduate research

• B7 Mathematics education for engineers in the changing world

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Line C ENHANCING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF EE

Promoter: C. Baker (Univ. of Birmingham)

• C1 Promoting Higher Engineering Education in Europe

• C2 Directory of courses of study for foreigners

• C3 Identification of tools for enhancing Tempus projects in EE

• C4 Promotion of pedagogical abilities of engineering teachers

• C5 Status of double degrees in EE in Europe

• C6 Widening participation in EE for under-represented groups

• C7 Attracting and retaining female students

• C8 The role of extra-curricular activities

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Line D SUSTAINABILITY

Promoter: M. Markkula (Helsinki Univ. of Tech.)

• D1 Managing continuing eng. education (CEE) effectively • D2 New ICT based forms of continuing professional development

(CPD) • D3 Changing work-culture, foresight and innovation • D4 Virtual university collaboration• D5 EFQM concept for managing university change• D6 Ethical issues in EE• D7 Adult education model for European Universities• D8 Work-based learning • D9 Active Learning

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TREE products

The main aim of TREE Special Interest Groups is that one of producing tools which will contribute enhancing Engineering Education in Europe.

Examples of such tools are:- Glossary of Terms Relevant to Higher Education (Engineering) -

SIG A6- Web site and an CD with a guide to the guides of Engineering

Schools in Europe - SIG A7- Reference Guidebook for Doctoral (PhD) Studies in Europe - SIG

B2- State of the art report on the status of research activities in the first

cycle in European universities – SIG B6- Report on the state of the art knowledge society development seen

from the perspective of sustainability of engineering competencies with an example of good practice – SIG D1

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TREE outcomes and their dissemination

The outcomes of TREE Thematic Networks (under the direct responsibility of the Special Interest Groups) are being finalised and a publication collecting them all (a volume plus CD Rom) which will be ready at the end of 2007.

Draft version of these outcomes will be soon available on TREE web site (www.unifi.it/tree) and a wider dissemination of these results, mainly through regional conferences around Europe (and not only!), will take place from Oct. 2007 to Sept. 2008

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Contact Details

International Relations Office

Facoltà di Ingegneria

Via di S. Marta, 3

50139 Firenze, Italy

Tel: +39.055.4796.543

Fax: +39.055.4796.544

intreling@unifi.it

www.unifi.it

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Thank you very much for your attention!

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