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Project Duration: 36 months

Project Number: 598549-EPP-1-2018-1-LV-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

Status: active

Project Members & Partners

• Latvijas University (Latvia) - Lead Beneficiary and Project Coordinator
• Brunel University London (UK)
• Jagiellonian University in Krakow (Poland)
• University of Helsinki (Finland)
• Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Russia)
• Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography (Russia)
• Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University (Russia)
• Kazan National Research Technical University (Russia)
• Yerevan State University (Armenia)
• National Polytechnic University of Armenia (Armenia)
• Khachatur Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University (Armenia)
• Belarussian National Technical University (Belarus)
• Polotsk State University (Belarus)
• Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno (Belarus)

PROJECT GOAL

MODEST project aims at modernization of doctoral education in Science in Partner Countries. Wider project objective is “To enhance cooperation capacities of Higher educational institutions of Partner Countries in the field of Doctoral Studies within European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and European Research Area (ERA)”

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. 1.Improve quality and employability of doctoral graduates of PC HEI’s by modernizing doctoral education towards interdisiplinarity, internationalisation, enhancing mobility, using new teaching methodologies in line with Salzburg Principles, BFGU recommendations.
2. 2.Facilitate successful adherence with Bologna reforms and its instruments by organization of special training sessions for academic and administrative staff of HEI’s in PCs.
3. 3.Improve up-skills of research and educational staff by retraining them on new teaching methods and create modern learning and research environment based on student centred approach, competence-based program development.
4. 4.Improve structure and internal capacities of services of doctoral education and research by setting up Doctoral Training Centers in PC HEI’s; ensure their sustainability and cooperation with EU partners by establishing a professional network using modern ICT tools.

To meet these objectives, the project will make use of the analysis of best EU practices and of the needs of PC to develop training materials and organize intensive retraining of HEI’s staff. Structure and content of DTCs will be worked out, including set of regulatory documents, instructions for DTC creation, programs and materials for DTCs and interdisciplinary Summer schools for doctoral students. To ensure sustainability, a web-platform and Virtual Network environment will be developed using participatory approaches and ICT methodologies. Synergy with other European initiatives will be sought via participation of consortium members in EU networks and organizations (Coimbra Group, EURASHE, etc).

PROJECT OUTCOMES

Work Package 1 Preparation

1.1 Analytic report on EU regulations, best EU practices in doctoral students training, organisation of their research and work placement

1.2 Analytic survey on situation in RU, BY, AR and their needs in reforms on modernization of training and research of doctoral  students, implementation of new teaching methodologies and cooperation with nonacademic and industrial partners

1.3 Draft structure and content of re-training courses for teaching/research/administrative staff, scientific supervisors, training managers, library/IT staff, policy/decision makers

Work Package 2 Development: Framework Development

2.1 Training materials and normative documentations in paper/e-form for university's academic, administrative staff, policy/decision makers

2.2 Report on evaluation and adjustment of training courses

2.3 Draft educational content (curriculum and courses), structure and management of DTCs

Work Package 3 Development: Knowledge Transfer

3.1 Set up of regulatory documents and instructions for operating of DTCs, number student's enrolled

3.2 Set up of documentations (programs, syllabus, teacher's instructions, quality guideline, etc), equipment for DTCs operation

3.3 Set up of programs, educational-methodical materials for international interdisciplinary Summer schools for doctoral students of AR, RU, BY on Science and transferable skills

Work Package 4 Development: Virtual Network Environment

4.1 Web-platform of Virtual Network developed

4.2 Structure and educational content of Virtual Network created

Work Package 5 Quality Plan

5.1 Quality Assurance & Evaluation Plan - handbook for participants

5.2 Recording of quality assessment of activities

5.3 Recording of quality assessment of outcomes

5.4 Quality Evaluation Reports

Work Package 6 Dissemination & Exploitation

6.1 Dissemination and Exploitation Action Plan

6.2 Documentation of dissemination activities

Work Package 7 Management

7.1 Project website

7.2 Project documents on Project Management System

7.3 Minutes of project meetings

7.4 Internal and External Reports

MODEST website - https://www.modest.lu.lv/en/