When identifying the strategic goals of its functioning for the years 2015-2020 the University of Opole focused its efforts on realisation of projects with international partners as well as the increase of the institution's internationalisation level. In order to accomplish these goals a number of actions aiming at deepening the cooperation with european higher education institutions are taken. The realisation of the project titled: Erasmus + Higher Education Mobility with Programme Countries perfectly fits the University strategy and allows for achievement of the predefined goals, both in the quantitative and qualitative terms. The Project was realised between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2017 and involved all possible action types. During this time 233 mobilities were completed: 92 student study mobilities, 35 student placement mobilities, 89 teacher mobilities and 17 staff mobilities for training. It is important to note that the project included all academic community members, including students in difficult financial situation. For the purpose of realisation of their mobilities the University of Opole received financial support from PO WER (Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development) and 13 student mobilities were financed.The Project's realisation allowed for achievement of long-term benefits, both individually (by participants - students and employees) and institutionally, as the University. Increasing the degree of internationalization, exchange of good practices, learning about innovative working techniques and organizational solutions (especially in the case of employee mobility) will contribute to the long-term, beneficial impact of the Project on the University of Opole. Experiences and benefits gained by the students during their study and placement mobilities will, in turn, contribute to the transfer of these experiences to the local labor market, which, due to Opole's location in the intercultural area, needs well-educated personnel with a multicultural background and a good command of foreign languages.

When identifying the strategic goals of its functioning for the years 2015-2020, the University of Opole focused its efforts on realisation of projects with international partners as well as the increase of the institution's internationalisation level. In order to accomplish these goals a number of actions aiming at deepening the cooperation with HEIs beyond Europe are taken. The realisation of the project entitled: Erasmus+ Higher Education Mobility between Programme and Partner Countries perfectly fits the University strategy and allows for achievement of the predefined goals, both in the quantitative and qualitative terms. The possibility of applying for funds in the four up to now rounds of submitting applications within the KA107 action met with a positive response from the units and authorities of the university, as well as potential foreign partner universities. The high number of countries, partner universities as well as number of mobilities has been maintained in comparison with the project call 2017. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that this project was ranked seventh in the country in terms of funding obtained by Polish universities under this Key Action. Taking into account the relatively small number of students and employees of the University of Opole in comparison to other leading universities in the country, it is certainly an achievement which puts the university in the role of a reliable partner. The financial agreement covering the settlement period from 01.06.2018 to 31.07.2021includes all available types of activities for students and employees. The project comprised 21 countries, 32 partner universities, and the number of completed 100 mobilities included 3 outgoing student mobilities for studies, 12 incoming student mobilities for studies, 5 incoming student mobilities for traineeships, 25 outgoing staff mobilities for teaching, 21 incoming staff mobilities for teaching, 13 outgoing staff mobilities for training, 21 incoming staff mobilities for training. The Project aimed at improving the quality of work of HEIs located both in partner countries and programme country that applied for funds throughout participation of their students and staff in foreign mobilities during which the rise in their professional competences is observed. Students had an opportunity, among others, to compare different education systems and various ways of conducting classes and conveying knowledge. Staff participants had an opportunity, among others, to get to know innovativemethods of teaching, to compare the organisation of education system implemented in both institutions and to familiarize with organisation of work connected with effective university management. Increasing the degree of internationalization, exchange of good practices, learning about innovative working techniques and organizational solutions will contribute to the long-term, beneficial impact of the Project on both the University of Opole and HEIs from partner countries.

One of the essential elements of the development strategy of the University of Opole (hereinafter referred to as UO) is to increase the level of internationalization of the institution. The particular attention is paid to the intensification of attempts connected with both acquisition and implementation of new projects which ultimately are carried out in cooperation with both EU partners and non-EU partners. One of such projects, viewed as a priority in our institution, is the mobility project for higher education students and staff carried out with Programme Countries. In the financial agreement embracing the financial period between June 1, 2014 and May 30, 2016, all of the mobility categories were included. The final numbers of outgoing mobilities were as follows: Student Mobility for Studies – 84, Student Mobility for Traineeships – 26, Staff Mobility for Teaching – 59, Staff Mobility for Training – 12. Among the participants of the project there were also students in difficult financial situation. In order to be able to complete those mobilities, the University of Opole obtained additional funds within the framework of ESF Programme Knowledge Education Development which enabled to finance 12 outgoing mobilities.One of the objectives of the following project was to improve the quality of functioning of the UO as a HEI by participation of its staff members in foreign mobilities. During those mobilities they not only increased their own professional skills and language competence but they also benefited from being a part of the international work environment using that experience for intensification of acquiring external funds for the realization of future projects. Among others, staff members had an opportunity to learn innovative teaching methods as well as to compare organization of education systems of respective institutions, to exchange good practices, and also to get to know means of work organization connected with effective management of the HEI. Staff mobilities, realized according to the principles of UO Erasmus+ Programme Policy, helped to improve the standards of teaching and academic research both in home and host institutions. There was a significant increase in interest in the implementation of international projects, and extremely dynamic actions were conducted towards the further development of a network of contacts with foreign partner institutions, with which at the moment a multi-dimensional and intensified cooperation in the scientific, educational and artistic fields is carried out. Thanks to the participation of staff members in foreign mobilities the number of courses taught in foreign languages has significantly increased recently. Efforts to launch more degree study programmes taught in English have also been made.Mobility of students aimed at making them spend a study period at a foreign partner university was to raise their educational, linguistic and intercultural competence. Students of all specialities taught at the University of Opole were invited to take part in the mobility programme.The perfect complement to this offer were traineeships abroad, which gave students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in practice and to increase their competitiveness in the domestic and international labour markets. A particular success reflecting the determination of the University to fully implement the overall strategy of the UO for the years 2014-2020, in which a significant increase in the number of outgoing students for traineeships had been planned, is the realization of as many as 26 outgoing traineeships though, in the initial phase of the project, the financial agreement provided for the implementation of only one mobility of this kind. Also the number of incoming trainees significantly increased. Foreign traineeships at the UO were carried out by 9 trainees as compared to 5 trainees in the previous academic year. The number of incoming teachers who conducted classes also increased significantly reaching the number of 30.In order to meet the demands of coordinating the project, and above all with a view to further improving the quality of services provided for students and staff members, the number of staff of the Office of Research and International Relations, which coordinates the activities carried out within the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme at the UO, has been raised. The big change was the employment of a person from Afghanistan, a former Erasmus+ student, whose knowledge of Turkish facilitates communication with the growing number of students coming from Turkey, and collaboration with partner institutions from this country.The implementation of Erasmus+ Programme had a positive impact on the increase of the level of internationalization of the University, helping in improving the attractiveness and competitiveness of its offer, developing its research, as well as deepening the integration on the European and global scale.

This action supports physical and blended mobility of higher education students and staff from EU Member States and third countries associated to Erasmus+ to any country in the world. 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.

When identifying the strategic goals of its functioning for the years 2015-2020 the University of Opole focused its efforts on realisation of projects with international partners as well as the increase of the institution's internationalisation level. In order to accomplish these goals a number of actions aiming at deepening the cooperation with HEIs beyond Europe are taken. The realisation of the project entitled: Erasmus+ Higher Education Mobility between Programme and Partner Countries perfectly fits the University strategy and allows for achievement of the predefined goals, both in the quantitive and qualitive terms. An opportunity to apply for funds in the first round of KA107 application to be submitted (call 2015) resulted in positive feedback from both university departments and legal representatives as well as potential partner universities abroad. The Project was realised between 1 June 2015 and 31 July 2017 and involved all action types available for students and staff. It embraced 28 mobilities including 2 outgoing student mobilities for studies, 8 incoming student mobilities for studies, 4 outgoing staff mobilities for teaching, 3 incoming staff mobilities for teaching, 5 outgoing staff mobilities for training, 6 incoming staff mobilities for training. The Project aimed at improving the quality of work of HEIs located both in partner countries and programme country that applied for funds throughout participation of their students and staff in foreign mobilities during which the rise in their professional competences is observed. Students had an opportunity among others to compare different education systems and various ways of conducting classes and knowledge transfer. Staff participants had an opportunity among others to get to know innovative methods of teaching, to compare the organisation of education system implemented in both institutions and to familiarize with organisation of work connected with effective university management. Increasing the degree of internationalization, exchange of good practices, learning about innovative working techniques and organizational solutions will contribute to the long-term, beneficial impact of the Project on both the University of Opole and HEIs from partner countries.