|
| |
Activities
Type: Meeting
Consortium Committee 2 (Minutes) |
Start: 07.09. 2006
End: 07.09. 2006 |
Second meeting of partners as a formal consortium. Updated Tuesday Sep 26.
Plan:
Agenda
1) Presentation of participants
2) Discussion and approval of Admission regulation document
3) Discussion and approval of Examinaton regulation document
4) Discussion and approval of Study and internship regulation document
5) Admissions Germany (documents sent: 6 applications)
6) Admission Slovenia (documents sent: 1 application)
7) Admission Norway (documents sent: 4 applications – in addition to 6 accepted in June)
8) Admission Procedure
9) Report on accreditation process
10) IP couse in Oldenburg
11) Partner meeting in Oldenburg
Attached files:
- three documents (accreditation process): agenda 2-4
- draft course programme, IP course Oldenburg
- minutes
Minutes:
Second Meeting of the Consortium Committee , 07.09.2006
Paticipants at the Meeting:
University of Stavanger: Dan Dyrli Daatland, Harald Høie, Rune Valen, Nils Olav Østrem, Fredrik Skår, Shalini Frøiland, Cecilie Cave
Carl von Ossietzky Universitaet: Lydia Potts, Anika Walke, Henning Dettleff
University of Goriza: Mirjam Milharcic-Hladnik, Marina Luksic-Hacin
CEMRI / Universidade Aberta: Armando Oliviera, Ana Paula Cordeiro
1. Presentation of participants
A welcome particularly to new persons: Henning Dettleff, who works in the office of the President of the University of Oldenburg; Harald Høie, Head of Institute for Humanistic Studies, University of Stavanger; Rune Valen, University of Stavanger (assisting Harald Høie); Cecilie Cave, University of Stavanger, administration of the Joint Master programme.
Fredrik Skår, University of Stavanger, Division for Academic Affairs to evaluate and comment on the admission and exam regulations.
Other participants in the meeting are well known to the Consortium
………………………….
Points 2-4:
Discussing documents connected to these points of the agenda was lead by Lydia Potts. All documents are part of the German accreditation process. All documents have been distributed to partners (Slovenia, Portugal, Norway) in time for the Consortium meeting. Documents have been rephrased and changed after comments from all partners have been received. The discussion during the Consortium meeting to be regarded as the formal passing of these documents.
2. Discussion and Approval of the Admission Regulation Document
Intepretations of some points dicussed:
Certificates in other Languages: The Committee agrees that each partner institution will follow their standard procedure in this regard.
Appealing the Admission Decision: Since the Consortium Committee admits the student, if an applicant disagrees with the decision of the Committee, complaints/appeals can be directed to the relevant partner university, where the concerned legal body will address the appeal. The Committee can then be called upon to defend/explain its decision.
Language requirements: The clause opens for other forms of assessment and testing in addition to the ones mentioned. This offers the partners necessary flexibility (particularly important in the Portuguese case).
All partners unanimously vote and pass the Admission regulations.
3. Discussion and Approval of Examination Regulation Document
The issue of zero tolerance regarding cheating with results of expulsion of the student was brought up (Norway). Considered too drastic in Germany where the student must forfeit, but can be admitted to the programme again next time. Inconclusive decision.
Suggested: examination regulations can be changed if problems occur.
Small error in document to be corrected.
All partners unanimously vote and pass the Examination Regulations.
4. Discussion and approval of Study and Internship Regulation Document
Just a short discussion on this document. Suggested: study and intership regulations can be changed if problems occur.
All partners unanimously vote and pass Study and Internship Regulations.
………..
Points 5-7: admission of students
5. Admissions Germany - 6 applications
All 6 German applicants have good academic records and relevant backgrounds. There is a good international mix. In addition to German applicants, there are also applicants from Luxembourg, Japan and Poland. Statements of purpose are well written and the level and quality of English competence is high.
All 6 applicants are admitted to the study programme.
6. Admission Slovenia – 1 application
The Slovenian applicant comes with best recommendations. Relevant education and work experience. Of note is a stint with the UNHCR.
Applicant admitted to the study programme.
7. Norway – 4 applications (six students already accepted in June)
Three of the Norwegian applicants are clearly qualified and are admitted without much comment by the consortium committee. All possess educational qualifications and a background that is relevant to the study programme. The fourth applicant is from Burma. Unfortunately, a three-year honours degree from Burma is so devalued that in Norway, it only qualifies for entry to a bachelor level programme. Another problem is lack of documentation regarding the postgraduate programme and no true copies. The committee consider her an interesting applicant and she has been asked to produce further documentation and also to confer NOKUT (Quality assurance organ) to re-check the regulations. If NOKUT regulation still stands, UiS cannot legally admit her to a study programme. Will be followed up this week.
3 applicants are admitted to the study programme. Applicant no 4: needs to be investigated further.
8. Admission Procedure
Two letters will be sent out to applicants who have been admitted to the course-
- A letter of acceptance from the Consortium Committee
- A letter of acceptance from the partner university
The consortium letter will be composed in Stavanger and then be sent to partners. The partners will send it on to their respective students. The letter from the committee will be of a general nature and contain the logos of all the partner institutions. The letter from the partner institution will contain all the practical details of admission. Students will accept the place of study by responding to their institution.
9. Report on Accreditation
Germany
The accreditation agency is Germany is still waiting for an external review. Possible that the accreditation agency will visit during the IP. It is important that all regulations are in force when accreditation happens. All documentation as of today is in English. There is the possibility that the agency can demand a German version as well.
Portugal
Accreditation was formally concluded on the 25th of July 2006. The Ministry of Science and Higher Learning will publish the course information in their handbooks
Slovenia
Slovenian accreditation is going smoothly and is in its final phase.
Norway
Formally done before end of 2005.
10. Intensive Programme (IP)
No vital changes to the programme. The IP application has been approved by the EU Commission. No information regarding the exact funding available.
There are 10 students from partner countries, which is an IP minimum. In addition two Yemeni students will be there. The IP is open to students who are not taking the MA as well, so more students would be welcome.
Role of tutors:
Tutors are expected to help students structure the material, moderate discussions, and also be part of the monitoring, feedback process. They will also help evaluate and document the field visits. Finally, they are crucial to the evaluation of the entire IP and the level of competence of the students. Material for the tutors at the IP will be made available by course start.
Accommodation during the IP_
Students travelling to Oldenburg for the IP will be put up in holiday apartments, where they will share rooms. Special requests in this regard are to be expressed to organizers as early as possible. Partners to be accommodated at pension/hotel.
11. Partner Meeting in Oldenburg
The partner meeting in Oldenburg will be afternoons/evenings of the 10th and 11th of October).
To be discussed:
- Overall coordinator draws attention to the Final Report Document. Invoices are necessary for all purchases that have been made – e.g. computers in Germany and Slovenia with date and cost of purchase + percentage of use and depreciation. Partners are also asked to check on travel expenses – overview is already distributed from overall coordinator. - Partners to consult administration to find out more about this.
This document + outcomes/products must be submitted 3,5 months after the project is concluded. Our project period will be concluded on the 30th September 2006.
- Third annual report of activities from partner groups must be more extensive than earlier reports. Reports must be very clear on the points of evaluation, dissemination and sustainability. Concrete information is required about conferences, seminars and task distribution in the group. Annual reports from partner groups to be ready for Oldenburg as a DRAFT document to be discussed at the partner meeting (will later be published on the WWW site - end of November). Will be used as important background material by overall coordinator when the The Final Report Document for the EU Commission is written + also be delivered as outcome/product of the project.
- New applications: New CD application will have to be prepared in Oldenburg at the partner meeting. For this purpose, Milan Mesic and Salim Murad will be invited to Oldenburg. The main purpose of the CD will be to break down the large modules into smaller ones, as well as to produce a Croatian and Czech module. Shalini will also give an update on the Erasmus Mundus application.
Shalni P. Frøiland
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
