Visit from Portugal strengthened collaboration
24 May 2023
Five deans from our strategic partner in Portugal, Institute Polytechnic of Braganca (IPB) recently visited University West. The visit was conducted as a part of the development of the STARS European University alliance but also not least our joint bilateral collaborations between IPB and University West.
The visiting deans were welcomed by acting Vice-Chancellor Jan Theliander and representatives from our departments. This was followed by discussions on possibilities, in particular a new form of short mobility called Blended Intensive Programs (BIP’s) within Erasmus+, integrated into our study programs.
Visits around campus
The visitors from IPB were showed our technical and pedagogical facilities on campus like Open Lab, Active Learning Classrooms (ALC) and our hybrid classrooms to inspire and see those possibilities the first day.
The second day started with a very interesting and informative visit to KLC (Clinical Learning Center) where methodology and techniques used for the training of nurses were presented.
The visit at KLC was followed by an impressive visit to Production Technology Center where Professor Joel Andersson showed all technical equipment and possibilities in the research and collaborations being conducted there.
The visit was hosted by Senior Advisor for Internationalisation, Gunnar Peterson and staff from all departments at University West participated. As a follow up to the visit a smaller group of Professors in Engineering Science from IPB will come to PTC within a month and a visit to IPB by Vice-Dean William Jobe from the School of Business, Economics and IT is also being planned. The on-site visits will be combined with a digital follow-up meeting to set up future joint activities.
About STARS
University West is a part of the STARS European University Alliance. The general objective of STARS is to build an alliance of nine regionally established universities and together become a future-oriented European University that will aim to achieve several goals.
The partner universities are linked in their desire to have a continued positive impact on the regional and local communities where they are situated, while at the same time building a strong transnational collaboration.
An application to become a European University has been submitted. A decision on whether the application has been approved by the European Union is expected by June 30.