In the frame of the Erasmus+ (E+) KA107-2017 project, 1/6/2016-30/7/2018, UP received 40 mobilities. 38 were carried out, of which 9 mobilities for students (6 incoming, 3 outgoing), 14 for teaching and 15 for training. The majority of mobilities were realized with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Russia and Kazakhstan. The project also involved institutions from Argentina, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and USA. At the beginning, most of partner institutions were not well-acquainted with the rules of the E+ program, therefore a lot of correspondence was needed to explain the rules and procedures. This was mostly done by mobility coordinators; sometimes academic staff with established relationships with colleagues at partner universities was also included. Most of the participants’ questions were related to financial issues, especially from participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. In the majority of cases, the institutional coordinator was contacted by mobility coordinators from partner universities, who then forwarded the obtained information to the participants from their universities. The participants contacted the coordinators at our university also directly, mostly by e-mail and phone prior to their arrival. After the arrival, our coordinators were available for individual meetings as well. The E+ funds were transferred to the participants on the basis of the signed Mobility Agreement. Prior to that, UP concluded an E+ bilateral agreement with each partner institution. The UP Department for International Cooperation prepared calls for outgoing and incoming mobilities (separately for each partner country; (https://www.upr.si/sl/mednarodno/mednarodna-mobilnost/erasmus/razpis-erasmus-studenti-partnerske-univerze; https://www.upr.si/sl/mednarodno/mednarodna-mobilnost/erasmus/novo-razpis-erasmus-ka107-zaposleni-2017) and participants were selected on the basis of the selection criteria defined in the calls. For student mobility the criteria were: motivation for mobility, knowledge of the language of the host country/English language and average grade; for staff mobility: the established cooperation, knowledge of the language of instruction and the current participation in hosting foreign colleagues. Candidates were selected by the home institution, which nominated them for approval to the host institution. For the integration of incoming students we organized the Orientation days before the beginning of the academic year (28/9-2/10/2017 and 27/9-2/10/2018). In the study year 2018/19 we decided to organize the Orientation days also before the beginning of the second semester: 14-15/2/2019. During the Orientation days we presented them the University, coastal towns, the study process and leisure activities. We also invited representatives from the Student organization (ŠOUP) for more information regarding student life. Students tutors assisted them at the administrative units in completing the documentation for the purposes of studying and staying in Slovenia. Throughout their mobility, the institutional mobility coordinator and international offices at the faculties were at their disposal for all relevant information. Outgoing students received the same support at partner institutions. In the case of teaching mobilities, one professor took the role of the host for her/his colleague from the foreign university and provided the guest with necessary assistance. In the case of mobility for training, the role of the host was played by mobility coordinators.At the end of the mobility period, students received the confirmation of stay and they were provided with full recognition of satisfactorily completed activities of study mobility in accordance with the signed Learning Agreement.We are pleased that all the mobility participants expressed their full satisfaction with the performed mobility (100%). As the greatest impact of mobility, the staff highlighted the expansion of the network, the increased cooperation with the partner institution, the acquisition of sector-specific and/or practical skills for their work and professional development and learning good practice abroad. Students emphasized the following mobility impacts: planning and carrying out learning more independently, see the value of different cultures, become more able to reach decisions, more able to adapt to and act in new situations, more open-minded and curious about new challenges, more tolerant towards other persons' values and behavior and increase sector- or field-specific skills. The stated impacts indicate the great value of mobility: participants gain new expertise and skills, expand business and personal contacts in the international environment. Once again, we can reconfirm that a positive mobility experiences are the best promotion for gathering new candidates, therefore we include former participants in various promotional activities (events, blogs, etc.).

This is a higher education student and staff mobility project, please consult the website of the organisation to obtain additional details.

In the frame of the Erasmus+ programme the University of Primorska (UP) is achieving its goal to strengthen the cooperation with partner institutions by student and staff mobility. In the Development Strategy 2014-2020, UP has defined the objective of increasing the mobility of students and staff. The majority of all mobilities is undertaken in the frame of the Erasmus+ programme. The project Erasmus+ Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of Individuals, Mobility project for Higher Education students and staff - Call 2016 lasted 01/06/2016 - 31/05/2018. In that period 117 outgoing mobilities (of 122 approved) were accomplished; among them 71 student mobilities (45 for Study and 26 for Traineeship) and 46 outgoing staff mobilities (21 for Teaching and 25 for Training). Most of the students concluded exchange mobility in Spain, Portugal and Finland (for the purpose of study), Spain was top destination country for traineeships. Outbound teaching staff selected partner universities in Hungary and Italy, while institutions in Spain were chosen for training. All outbound mobilities are carried out on the basis of bilateral agreements with partner institutions and the Call which is prepared and published by the UP’s International Relations Office. The selection of the candidates is done at each faculty by appointed commissions. The same proceedings are carried out for pedagogical staff, while the selection of administrative staff is being done by the university’ commission. All selected participants are informed about the documentation that has to be prepared and agreed before the mobility (Learning Agreement for Studies/Traineeships; Mobility Agreement) and submitted after the mobility. Special info-days are organized for them. They are also given the possibility for the language preparation in the frame of the On-line Language Support (OLS) and in that way UP ensures that outbound mobile participants are well prepared for the mobility in line with the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education 2014-2020 (ECHE). The staff selected for the mobility is more independent and needs less support than students, however the mobility coordinators are available for any information they need. The support is given also to inbound participants, mostly regarding information on accommodation. During mobility inbound participants are ensured equal academic treatment and services as home students and they are charged no extra fees for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory and library facilities, in line with ECHE. Student’s Council, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and the Student Organization of the University of Primorska (ŠOUP) are very active and helpful in the following areas: sociality and student issues, culture, sports and student recreation, higher education and student counselling, international cooperation. They assist foreign students in obtaining necessary permissions, e.g. the temporary residence permit. At the end of their mobility period, UP provides incoming mobile participants and their home institutions with transcripts containing a full, accurate and timely record of their achievements. For outgoing mobile participants the full recognition for satisfactory completed activities of mobility is ensured. Their mobility experience is included also in their Diploma Supplement. The importance and positive impact of mobility rise also from participants’ answers in the online questionnaires: 100% of students that underwent mobility for traineeship confirmed that on the basis of the mobility experience they have major intercultural awareness, feel more confident and more easily adapt to new situations. Staff who participated in mobility, highlighted the acquisition of specific and practical skills and the development of social, linguistic and cultural competencies. In turn, all this contributes to a better quality of work at their home institutions. The positive impact of mobility is the best promotion tool for new candidates for participating in mobility programmes. Therefore we practice to include a presentation of a personal experience in each event for outgoing participants. Our students are willing to share their mobility experience also on several blogs. All relevant information for mobility participants are published on the university webpage and in different promotional materials, both for outbound and inbound students. For the latest the brochure Welcome Guide with all relevant information on study at UP and life in Slovenia is published, too. Active cooperation in mobility projects strengthens the relations with partner institutions and opens possibilities for establishing new partnerships. As already described above, the mobility has a positive impact on all partners involved – the participant, home institution and host institution.

In the frame of Erasmus + KA107 program (the project was extended for one year due to the COVID-19 outbreak) University of Primorska (hereinafter UP) has obtained funds for enabling 4 incoming mobility namely: 3 incoming mobility from Kazakhstan (2 incoming student mobility for the purpose of study and 1 incoming staff mobility for the purpose of training) and 1 incoming staff mobility for the purpose of training from Argentina. Within the approved mobility, UP has realized 2 incoming student mobility from Kazakhstan, both of them in the second semester of academic year 2018/2019. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, other two approved mobility (incoming staff mobility for the purpose of training- one from Argentina and one from Kazakhstan) were not realized .In the Development Strategy 2014-2020, UP has defined the objective of increasing the mobility of students and staff. The Erasmus + 2018 project has also made an important contribution to achieving those objectives- especially for students and professional staff, since it represents a significant share of implemented mobility. For professional staff, this project represents, due to modest other funding options, the main option for training abroad. In 2020 UP adopted a new development strategy. At the same time it has also obtained a new Erasmus Charter for Higher Education- ECHE Charter and updated its Erasmus Policy Statement – EPS Statement accordingly. We have judged that aspects of internationalization, including mobility, are so strongly intertwined with all other aspects that they no longer need to be specifically highlighted. Some important areas remain, but the focus shifted from quantity to assuring the quality. One of the main goals of the UP is that the majority of professional staff would participate in one longer mobility (as the pedagogical staff). For the better integration of foreigners, we have established a “Welcome Center”. Furthermore we are also developing the so-called “Mixing Space”- space that will bring together Slovenian and foreign students, researchers and employees and as well the visitors and the local community. The Erasmus project contributed to the identification of needs that have led to mentioned developments. Based on mobility participant’s observations, which they transferred from foreign universities, we update our services and support for our colleagues and students Whit this, we want to bring the field of internationalization closer to all those who are, in any way, involved in the university environment. In addition we have made a reorganization that has redefined individual responsibilities (establishment of project office and additional capacity for mobility projects and Erasmus + projects) and have included more UP offices in the providing of assistance and support. This kind of development is also being introduced at UP Faculties, which are also learning about the importance of integration and cooperation. The mobility participants were selected on the basis of the tender, prepared by Department Educational and International Activity and Quality of UP. Tender defined selections criteria for students (motivation for mobility, language knowledge, academic success) and for staff (established cooperation, language knowledge…). The information about the tender was sent to the mobility coordinators at both partner institutions, who then selected and nominated the candidates to UP. To facilitate the integration of both incoming students into the new environment, we organized so called “Orientation Days”. Representatives of the UP Student Organization, Student Council and the Erasmus Student Network are also included in these activities. Tutors also help students to obtain the necessary permits, such as a temporary residence permit. During mobility inbound participants are ensured equal academic treatment and services as home students and they are charged no extra fees for tuition, registration, examinations, access to laboratory and library facilities, in line with ECHE. At the end of their mobility period, UP provides incoming mobile participants and their home institutions with transcripts containing a full, accurate and timely record of their achievements. During the mobility, participants obtain new expertise and learn about the culture and language of the host country. Participants thus gain invaluable experiences, which can be applied in their further study or work path. This is also confirmed by the results of the survey. Both of incoming students were very satisfied with the mobility. Students pointed out that during the mobility they managed to develop quite a few competences (teamwork skills, logical thinking, putting ideas into practice..). In addition to this, both students stated that they had an opportunity to get to know the culture of new environment and recognize its value.

This action supports physical and blended mobility of higher education students and staff from/to third countries not associated to Erasmus+. Students in all study fields and cycles can take part in a study period or traineeship abroad. Higher education teaching and administrative staff can take part in professional development activities abroad, as well as staff from the field of work in order to teach and train students or staff at higher education institutions.