University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

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Introduction 

Erasmus is the European Commission's flagship educational programme for Higher Education students, teachers and institutions. It was introduced with the aim of increasing student mobility within Europe. Erasmus forms part of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme (2007-2013). The programme offers an opportunity for students to undertake a period of study - either one semester or one academic year in another European country. Academic credits earned during the exchange programme are recognised as part of a degree.

The benefits of the Erasmus scheme are not limited to students; academic and administrative staff can also participate in mobility within Europe. Erasmus mobility opportunities for study periods and staff exchanges are based around bilateral agreements which are set up between partner institutions.

The Erasmus Exchange Programme is provided with the support of the Commission of the European Communities via the British Council, who are the UK's National Agency.

The University College Plymouth St Mark & St John has been recently awarded the Erasmus University Charter in order to facilitate staff and student mobility in Europe as well as work placements for students. The Charter entitles the University College to funding for student mobility grants, and grants for teachers to undertake short Teaching Visits.

 

Bilateral Agreements

All Erasmus agreements are subject to a Bilateral Agreement, indicating the subject area, the number of student/staff places on the exchange and at which level the students should be (undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD etc).

We are keen to hear from Faculties or individuals wishing to establish a new Erasmus partnership. The University College aims to establish strategic, long-term partnerships and prefers not to sign an agreement for the benefit of one student. The following considerations should be taken into account:

• The partner institution, or at least the Faculty involved, must be on an academic par with the University College.
• There must be at least one designated coordinator in the Faculty who would coordinate Erasmus mobility and liaise with the International Office.
• The mobility of students and/or staff should be possible in both directions. You should only set up agreements with institutions to which you believe there is a realistic chance of sending UCP Marjon students.
• Designated academics and faculties are responsible for recruiting UCP Marjon students. International Office will help to promote the Erasmus Mobility across the University College.

When considering a partnership with any European University the following Considerations should also be taken into account when preparing the Bilateral Agreement:

• Partner institutions should also be in receipt of the Erasmus University Charter
• duration of contract between institutions in academic years
• names, codes and contact details of the co-ordinators in the Home and the partner institution
• any incoming student mobility (subject area; numbers of students and total months)
• any outgoing student mobility (subject area; numbers of students and total months)
• any outgoing student mobility for work placements (subject area; numbers of students and total months)
• any incoming and outgoing teaching mobility
• any incoming and outgoing staff mobility

 

Bilateral Agreements must not be signed by the Faculties

In order to create a Bilateral Agreement, the Faculty/Academic should discuss the possible exchange in the first instance with the Dean of the Faculty. If authorised, discussions can proceed with the potential partner university to confirm the subject area, students and/or teacher mobility numbers and duration.

After confirming the mobility arrangements the bilateral agreement should be sent to the International Office for the authorized signature from the Principal’s Office. All agreements must be accompanied by a confirmation from the Dean of Faculty, illustrating the benefit it will bring to the Faculty, and how it contributes to the University College International strategy. Without it a bilateral agreement will not be signed.

 

The International Office is currently producing Bilateral Agreements for Erasmus activity which Faculties wish or establish.  It is suggested that at the moment Bilateral agreements will be renewed annually. Please note that mobility should be balanced both ways.

Procedure

In order to create a Bilateral Agreement, the following procedure should be followed:

Step 1:

The Faculty should ensure that all the details on the proposed Bilateral Agreement are correct.  A template of Bilateral Agreement is attached (Annexes with Model agreements). The Faculty should make sure that details of both Student and Teaching Mobility (where applicable) are correct (numbers, duration, subject code). 

The Faculty should also complete the sections entitled ‘School Contact Details’ and ‘Partner Central Contact Details’.

Please note that the Faculty is not responsible for signing the Bilateral Agreement and that all Bilateral Agreements should be typed.

Step 2:

The Bilateral Agreement should be sent to the International Office.  All Bilateral Agreements must be accompanied by a confirmation from the Dean of Faculty, illustrating the benefit it will bring to the Faculty, and how it contributes to the University College International strategy. Without it a bilateral agreement will not be signed.

Step 3:

Once a copy of the Bilateral Agreement with a confirmation from the Dean has been sent to the International Office, they will be signed and dated by the Vice Principal. A copy will then be sent to the partner institution for their signature.

Step 4:

As soon as the International Office has received a copy of the completed Bilateral Agreement which is signed by both parties, as well as the internal application form, the process is complete.  A copy of the completed Bilateral Agreement will be returned to the Faculty and should be retained for your reference.          

Please note: Bilateral Agreements are contractual legal documents and should be treated as such.  These are subject to change ONLY if both parties are in agreement.  

Study Exchanges for students:

• Outgoing students

From second year of study onwards, UCP Marjon students can spend one or two semesters (academic year) studying at one of the University College’s partner institutions. Erasmus exchanges are an integral part of the degree programme and credit gained (not marks) whilst on Erasmus counts towards student’s degree at UCP Marjon. This is normal procedure as Higher Education institutions would not normally confirm specific module marks for assessments that have been undertaken at other Institutions, as those assessments would not directly comply with our validated programme documents, institutional regulations and marking procedures and would not be verified by our academic staff and appointed Subject External Examiners.

 Students receive a Student Mobility (SM) grant from the EU as a flat rate grant calculated on a monthly rate. Grants are provided as a contribution towards the costs of the planned Erasmus mobility period.

 

• Incoming students

The Erasmus exchange programme offers the opportunity for students currently studying at a European university with which we have an Erasmus exchange agreement to spend either a year or a semester with us. Students do not pay any fees and may receive an Erasmus grant from their home university.

 

Work Placements for students:
Under the ERASMUS scheme, students can undertake Work Placements in any of the member states of the EU. For a general overview of the Work Placements Scheme, please view the British Council’s Work Placements Guide.

 

Teaching and Training Exchanges for staff:
Complementing the student mobility grant scheme, the staff mobility programme offers financial support to encourage the exchange of university staff between partner institutions for periods of teaching or training. The scheme operates with the support of the Commission of the European Communities within the framework of the LLP Erasmus Programme.

The recommended minimum duration for teaching assignments is five days, and may not exceed a maximum of 6 weeks. There is an obligation to deliver at least 5 hours of teaching.

All University employees who are nationals of a participating country can apply to undertake a staff training placement at either one of our current Erasmus partner European Universities or an enterprise in Europe.

 

Last modified on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:40 GMT by icamposdiaz