Workshop 3 01/12 Engineering, Environment, IT & Telecommunication

1. Workshop 3 01/12Engineering, Environment, IT & Telecommunication Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

2. Where we are & where can we/do we want to go? • Realistic reasons why candidates apply; • Are the European societies aware of the potential of EMMCs; • EMMCs added value for European & third country students/scholars; • Long term sustainability; • Implementation of a pan-European EMMC Curriculum; • Students as our main pillars & ambassadors; • Thematic Students workshops – Role of Alumni Associations; Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

3. Realistic main reasons why candidates apply • Are we sure the EMMCs attractiveness and competitivity are high enough? • Key futures that are really appealing when compared to other destinations: • High value of the scholarship • Help in getting the Visa • Insurance scheme • Guarantee of good international office services • Safety • However • Variety of languages and cultures are seen as obstacles; • Mobility may be appealing but is also an added difficulty & stress; • Scientific excellence is not necessarily the first reason for their choice; • Europe’s teaching methodologies & career prospects are not very promising; Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

4. Is Europe really aware of the potential of EMMCs Keep/ improve the quality of their courses via international collaboration (joining strengths); Projection of Smaller European Universities; Provide a good number of students: continuation of some courses, namely in the field of science & engineering; Research collaborations at European level (joint supervision of Master thesis) & with third countries (scholars and Action 3); Yet, any extra funding from the Science & Higher education ministries? Some consulates have not even heard of this programme! Are your colleagues really aware of this? Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

5. Is Europe really aware of the potential of EMMCs (cont.) Industries both national and multinational can recruit graduates trained at: a recognised high scientific level and in a multicultural environment; The European Society gains: little by little cities where EMMCs are being run receive students from rather different cultural backgrounds; Yet, little is known about these programmes at local. Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

6. EMMCs added value for European & third country students/scholars For students: Courses delivered in English World Expert lectures from the consortium & 3rd country scholars Possibility of mobility within the consortium Joint thesis Joint degree Multicultural environment Networking – an investment in the future! For scholars: Opportunity to strengthen research collaborations and/or start new ones; Opportunity to work on curriculum development and exchange teaching and assessment practices; Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

7. Long term sustainability Ensure EMMCs attractiveness and competitivity is really enough based on criteria Identified by surveys. Extra funding from Ministries of Science & Higher Education. Get companies to sponsor some students and/ or scholars. Get third countries to sponsor some students and/or scholars. Get international aid organizations to sponsor some students. Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

8. Implementation of a pan-European EMMC Curriculum Similar efforts have been made at undergraduate level: Example: ECTN – European Chemistry Thematic Network Eurobachelor degree why not an “EuroMaster” degree Drawbacks: Need for homogenisation of academic background; Impossible to specialise and go in depth into a particular field; Assets Complementarities of knowledge  innovation! Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

9. Students as our main pillars & ambassadors Any ECMMs success will depend on the graduates produced: If they are impressed with the services provided; If they reach a high scientific level together with other skills such as: languages; multicultural awareness/respect; team spirit; flexibility; Then Our graduates will certainly get the word around the world to future candidates and their employers will want to hear from them too. Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

10. Thematic Students’ workshop – Role of Alumni Associations • Opportunity to • Disseminate these courses inside + outside the institutions • Disseminate the spirit of EMMCs • Show the high scientific level • Promote networking between students; scholars and companies; • Promote job opportunities • Help students to develop other skills. Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

11. Thematic Students’ workshop (cont.) • EMMS 1st cohort organised an workshop last year. • Raised awareness of the programme • Guests from industry and 3rd country scholar who attend learned a lot more about the programme. • Media coverage (though only at national level) • Helped 2nd cohort to bond with 1st cohort and find areas of common scientific interest. • Plans to take the initiative further are in the horizon and work is underway within the Erasmus Mundus Alumni Association. Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros

12. Conclusion EMMCs attractiveness and competitivity has to be improved if we aim at sustainability; ECMMs are of great interest to Europe as a whole (Universities; Companies; Societies). Therefore, decision-makers must understand fully the potential of ECMMS; The creation of a pan-European EMMC CV and degree may be a significant contribution. Graduates and the Alumni Associations will certainly be a major contribution Potential for inter-universities and inter-disciplines co-operation Consortium: EMMS Speaker: Ana Barros