The University of Macerata is a small university in the central part of Italy. It is among the oldest universities in Europe (it was founded in 1290), and its activities are oriented towards human and social sciences. Developing the internationalization and opening itself to the world are among the main strategic objectives of the University of Macerata, through the increase and the strengthening of the international networks, from the perspective of social cohesion at an international level. The role of the European internationalization is essential in the strategic development plan of the University, together with the increase in mobility and the development of curriculum, networks, etc..As reported in the Policy Statement, the internationalization represents a fundamental component of the strategic vision of the University, which aims to make the international dimension an integral part of its own teaching and researching activities. Improving the quality of teaching and researching, through the active and interactive fusion of different academic traditions, represents the biggest expectation of the University.The following objectives are equally strategic: the quality control and the evaluation of participation, the level of internationalization among administrative staff, teachers and students; the measures to secure the full acknowledgment of the study abroad period; the development of transnational projects; the use of foreign languages in teaching and researching; the strategies for the implementation of the process of Bologna and the Erasmus Policy Statement inside the institution.The Erasmus+ Community Programme, therefore, is well-integrated into the table of the strategic objectives of the University of Macerata since it lets students, teachers and administrative staff to gain greater abilities and transversal skills, and to improve the quality of teaching.The fusion of different academic traditions, achieved through the mobility activities, let the University of Macerata to move forward in the modernization of its education system, making it more innovative and transnational. Moreover, this fusion let the University to promote the youth’s participation in society and the building of a European dimension. The project has given the students the opportunity to study, grow, have working abroad experiences, enhance language-learning, see skills acknowledged.In 2015-2016 academic year, no. 236 Erasmus Study students and no. 119 Erasmus Traineeship students took part in the Erasmus Programme, in total 382 students. It may be noted that there is a significant increase of 27% in the interest in study-abroad mobility, and a constant increase of 15% in the mobility for traineeship, in 2015-2016 academic year. Teachers had the opportunity to develop teaching and researching skills on a European base, enhance language-learning, share teaching methods with the other teachers of partner institutions, with the aim of implementing the best skills gained, and favouring the students through a more innovative and high-quality learning. In 2015-2016 academic year, 31 teachers and 2 members of the administrative staff took part in the Erasmus activities.The project had an important effect on the University, its territory and the local stake holders: the Outgoing Erasmus students represent the 3,78% of the total amount of students enrolled at the University.

This is a project for higher education student and staff mobility between Programme Countries and Partner Countries. Please consult the website of the organisation to obtain additional details.

The University of Macerata is a small university in the central part of Italy. It is among the oldest universities in Europe (it was founded in 1290), and its activities are oriented towards human and social sciences. Developing the internationalization and opening itself to the world are among the main strategic objectives of the University of Macerata, through the increase and the strengthening of the international networks, from the perspective of social cohesion at an international level. The role of the European internationalization is essential in the strategic development plan of the University, together with the increase in mobility and the development of curriculum, networks, etc..As reported in the Policy Statement, the internationalization represents a fundamental component of the strategic vision of the University, which aims to make the international dimension an integral part of its own teaching and researching activities. Improving the quality of teaching and researching, through the active and interactive fusion of different academic traditions, represents the biggest expectation of the University.The following objectives are equally strategic: the quality control and the evaluation of participation, the level of internationalization among administrative staff, teachers and students; the measures to secure the full acknowledgment of the study abroad period; the development of transnational projects; the use of foreign languages in teaching and researching; the strategies for the implementation of the process of Bologna and the Erasmus Policy Statement inside the institution.The Erasmus+ Community Programme, therefore, is well-integrated into the table of the strategic objectives of the University of Macerata since it lets students, teachers and administrative staff to gain greater abilities and transversal skills, and to improve the quality of teaching.The planned Erasmus KA107 mobility project is relavant to the internationalisation strategy of the University of Macerata as it represents a further step toward the strengthening of its partnerships. The University of Macerata and the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev have a long history of scientific partnership that goes back to 2003. This collaboration started with a bilateral agreement that promoted academic staff exchange focusing on the fields of Italian studies and Geography and has seen the active involvement of scholars from both institutions.Starting from 2013 the two Universities stepped up their partnership with two agreements for double degree programs at MA level, in the fields of Tourism and International Relations. The realised mobility project has contributed to strengthen the cooperation facilitating the mobility of students and faculties and thus increase their opportunities to be exposed to different academic and cultural environments.The developed project interested students, both Incoming and Outgoing, who spent a semester in the partner University, where they attended courses and passed the related exams for a total amount of at least 30 ECTS and staff form both institutions who travelled to the partner University where they delivered lectures in special seminars within the double degree programme, accessible alto to other interested students, and checked the progress of their students in hosting institution.

This was the first KA107 project for UNIVERSITY OF MACERATA (UNIMC). The project was part of a larger international strategy aimed to extend the possibilities for exchange outside of the EU and to increase the quality of the collaboration with the ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY AFTER KHACHATUR ABOVYAN (ASPU). However, the project itself was not aimed at increasing the number of mobilities, but rather to become accustomed to the rules and regulations of KA107 and to be able to monitor the quality of the mobilities. For both partners, the project was also aimed at strengthening the existing collaboration with the qualitative student and staff mobilities that would have an impact on the institutes beyond the personal experiences. 2 Italian students had the opportunity to study at the ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY AFTER KHACHATUR ABOVYAN (ASPU) and earn about 12 ETCS credits during the 3-months mobility. Unfortunately, Armenian students have not been able to implement mobility due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.The incoming staff from Armenia (3 teaches and 1 administrative) participated in teaching programs (in the field of special education and didactic) but also met with the research team of the Department of Education, cultural heritage, and tourism to prepare for possible submission of joint international projects and grants. 2 UNIMC teachers gave lectures to Armenian students and teachers on the topic of “didactic strategies for teaching geography and history in Italian universities” and exchanged experience in several fields. This project helped to improve existing curricula, modernize them in line with EU standards, and thus promote the quality of education at both universities.All involved institutions proved their expertise to manage and realize successful mobilities which would not be possible without the support of the Erasmus+ KA107 grant.

L'Università di Macerata è una piccola Università dell'Italia centrale, tra i più antichi Atenei Europei (è stata fondata nel 1290) e focalizza le sue attività negli ambiti delle scienze umane e sociali. Tra gli obiettivi strategici dell'Università di Macerata c'è quello di sviluppare l'internazionalizzazione e di aprirsi al mondo, aumentando e potenziando le reti internazionali nella prospettiva della coesione sociale a livello internazionale.Fondamentale è ritenuto il ruolo della internazionalizzazione Europea nell'ambito del piano strategico di sviluppo dell’Ateneo, accanto all'incremento della mobilità ed allo sviluppo del curriculum, delle reti etc..Come indicato all’interno dell’Erasmus Policy Statement, l’internazionalizzazione rappresenta una componente fondamentale nella visione strategica dell’Università di Macerata, la quale ha come obiettivo quello di fare in modo che la dimensione internazionale sia in grado di penetrare le proprie attività di didattica e di ricerca. La principale aspettativa è quella di incrementare la qualità della didattica e della ricerca attraverso la contaminazione dinamica con tradizioni accademiche diverse. Ugualmente strategici sono: il controllo della qualità e la valutazione della partecipazione, il livello di internazionalizzazione dello staff amministrativo, dei docenti e degli studenti; le misure per assicurare il pieno riconoscimento del periodo di studi all'estero; lo sviluppo dei progetti transnazionali; l’uso di lingue straniere nella didattica e nella ricerca; le strategie per l’implementazione del Processo di Bologna e l'attuazione dei principi della Erasmus Policy Statement all'interno dell’istituzione.L’offerta didattica dell'Ateneo di Macerata include corsi di laurea e di laurea magistrale, programmi di dottorato, master, scuole di specializzazione, summer school. Gli studenti possono frequentare corsi di beni culturali, economia, filosofia, giurisprudenza, lettere, lingue, mediazione linguistica, scienze della comunicazione, scienze della formazione, scienze politiche, turismo. Per i giovani talenti, la Scuola di Studi Superiori Giacomo Leopardi offre percorsi didattici pluri-disciplinari e di eccellenza. Grazie all'Istituto Confucio, l'Università di Macerata è un punto di riferimento per la promozione della lingua e della cultura cinese e della mobilità tra Italia e Cina per studenti e docenti.Il Programma Comunitario Erasmus+, quindi, ben si inserisce nel quadro degli obiettivi strategici dell’Università di Macerata poiché consente agli studenti, ai docenti ed al personale tecnico amministrativo di acquisire maggiori abilità e competenze trasversali e di accrescere la qualità dell’insegnamento.La contaminazione fra diverse tradizioni accademiche prodotta dalle attività di mobilità ha consentito di fare dei passi avanti nella modernizzazione del sistema di istruzione e formazione dell’Università di Macerata, rendendolo maggiormente innovativo e transnazionale ed ha consentito di promuovere la partecipazione dei giovani alla società e la costruzione di una dimensione europea. Il progetto ha fornito agli studenti l'opportunità di studiare, formarsi, effettuare esperienze lavorative all'estero, approfondire l'apprendimento delle lingue, vedersi riconosciute le competenze acquisite.Per l'a.a. 2018/2019 hanno partecipato al programma Erasmus n. 241 studenti Erasmus Studio e n. 112 studenti Erasmus Traineeship, per un totale di n. 353 studenti.I docenti hanno avuto l'opportunità di sviluppare capacità di insegnamento e ricerca su base europea, perfezionare l'apprendimento delle lingue, condividere le metodologie di insegnamento con gli altri docenti delle sedi partner, allo scopo di mettere in pratica le best practice apprese e favorire l'adozione di metodi di insegnamento più innovativi e di qualità. Per l'a.a. 2018/2019 hanno partecipato alle iniziative Erasmus n. 38 docenti.L'impatto del progetto è stato molto importante per l'Università, per il suo territorio e per gli stake holders locali: gli studenti Erasmus Outgoing rispetto al numero complessivo degli studenti iscritti all'Università di Macerata è del 3,4%.