European Policy Statement 2007 -2013

Brief overview of TTK/UAS´s strategy, objectives and priorities for its Erasmus activities and any actions in the context of the Lifelong Learning Programme (2007 – 2013). Specific actions to give visibility to Erasmus activities and publicity to EUC (Erasmus University Charter) and EPS. Arrangements to ensure non-discrimination objectives. The internationalization strategy of TTK/UAS is based on the mission statement of the College and on strategic documents and agreements of European and Estonian higher education. The mission is to support the development of sustainable society, by offering contemporary professional higher education in creative, innovative and entrepreneurial environment, which is supported by professional research in the field of engineering. One of the main objectives of TTK/UAS is to improve conditions for international studies. There are three main courses of action for the strategy that TTK/UAS is implementing in lifelong learning activities: creation of supportive environment; internationalization of study activities; development of internationalization support system. Based on the strategic aims of TTK/UAS the College is implementing the major action lines of the Bologna Declaration: promotion of European collaboration in quality assurance; adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees; promotion of the European dimension in higher education; promotion of mobility. Within the next period of LLP 2007 – 2013, TTK/UAS will therefore: expand cooperation with higher educational institutions from abroad and participation in the work of EU educational programs (including Erasmus, IP-projects, joint projects and conferences, networking, applied research); elaborate joint curricula in Estonia and abroad to implement studies in English (minimum two curricula); launch joint master programs; double the number of incoming and outgoing exchange students (under Erasmus and other programs) to assure a stable offspring of highly educated specialists with practical knowledge; increase the number of guest lecturers. TTK/UAS has given and will continue to give the visibility to international (including Erasmus) lifelong learning activities. TTK/UAS will publish EPS and the new directions of LLP as following: newspaper of TTK/UAS Young Engineer; info stands; Web-site of TTK/UAS (English version available); International Catalogue – ECTS Guide, Yearbook of TTK/UAS, international information days (minimum twice a year); an annual information day for the freshmen; national and international conferences, seminars, roundtables, educational fairs (EAIA, ERACON, ENAS, ACA, EURASHE). Erasmus University Charter will be exposed on the wall in the International Office. The internationalization policy as well as all other foundational documents of TTK/UAS condemns any discrimination on the basis of ethnic or geographical origin, gender or sexual preference, religion or social origin, political or philosophical conviction. TTK/UAS is guided by the principle to offer all the students, teachers and administrative staff members an equally tolerant, helpful and open learning and working environment. For integrating the students and teachers with hearing or visual disability TTK/UAS is using the help of personal translators and/ or individual tutors who may be students or teachers. Quality of academic mobility activities TTK/UAS is acknowledged as a stable and competitive institution (long history and competent staff) in European higher educational landscape. The number of local and exchange students has grown every year. Outgoing students are forming 0,85% of all the students of TTK/UAS. TTK/UAS has become active in international level having completed successfully several international projects (TEMPUS, PHARE, Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates IP). TTK/UAS is going to outvalue 1% of student mobility within 2007-2013. TTK/UAS has elaborated Quality Management System (including Feedback Monitoring System). Big attention has been paid to: mobility of students/ teachers/ staff members, practical work placements, cooperation with educational institutions/enterprises all over Europe within the framework of lifelong learning. To guarantee the recognition of studies abroad as a part of studies at home institution, TTK/UAS precedes from the EU regulations and documents (Learning Agreements) in mobility actions: state funding of mobility; international studies displayed in diploma supplements; ECTS – also for inter-institutional use; complete support (free accommodation according to agreements, tutor(s), free intensive Estonian language courses and Cultural preparation courses in the Centre for Humanities). After the mobility period, both students and teachers are asked for feedback: meetings, questionnaires, essays and photos to improve mobility actions. All curricula pertaining to accreditation are accredited by international committees. TTK/UAS has carried out benchmarking of curricula in cooperation with the partner institutions. All the teachers of TTK/UAS have in-service training plans. Erasmus mobility, as well as participation in international networks, conferences, and seminars is considered an essential tool and therefore strongly recommended by TTK/UAS. TTK/UAS is going to start with exchange of administrative staff members within 2007-2013 to offer the employees an international experience in foreign environment. Quality of student placement activities Since 2000, TTK/UAS has actively participated in the Leonardo da Vinci program. Students and teachers of TCE have carried out their work placement period in Finland, Germany, Italy and Sweden. As being a professional oriented higher educational institution, all curricula of TTK/UAS include practical work placement periods. Therefore, TTK/UAS strongly supports students to carry out their placements abroad fully recognizing the period as a part of their studies in TTK/UAS, transferring the credits obtained abroad. Student placemement application procedure is organized according to the regulations established in EU and TTK/UAS. Both outgoing and incoming placement students are offered full assistance in preparing the placement period. So far we haven’t had any complaints in this field. To assure high quality of placement activities, TTK/UAS has: signed cooperation agreements with approved Estonian and foreign enterprises to ensure the possibilities for work placements for local as well as for incoming and outgoing students. The cooperation with enterprises is organized mainly by the faculties; cooperation links from Leonardo da Vinci program with foreign intermediate institutions and also subsidiaries of large scale enterprises in Estonia; introduction of work placements possibilities in the International Catalogue – ECTS Guide of TTK/UAS and on the web-site; trilateral Training Agreements, prescribing the topic and credit points of the placement; mail contact with the student and tutor at the host enterprise during the placement to get more objective overview of the process of the placement period; feedback: meetings, questionnaires, essays and photos to describe the placement period. Photos and essays with contact data of the students are published on the web-site and in the newspaper of TTK/UAS. Feedback helps to improve the quality of placement activities. All incoming placement students are offered free accommodation at the students’ hostel of TTK/UAS according to the agreements.