This proposal addresses the priorities of the Call by appointing an Era Chair Holder at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU), Dr. Andrew M. Liebhold, a globally prominent scientist in the field of biological invasions. The proposal aims to establish HIVE: The Centre for Biological Invasions in Forests around the Chair, by hiring a team of excellent researchers and adopting an innovative work model of Socio-Ecological Synthesis Centres (SESC). This model has recently had much success in generating innovative high-impact research, yet there has been only a very limited uptake in Widening countries. Contrary to the traditional hierarchical system of research organisation, SESC research is organised around Working Groups (WG), which are formed of a diverse collection of researchers and innovators from mostly outside host institutions. Adopting this work model in HIVE will deliver a considerable increase in mobility level across disciplines and sectors and facilitate a new level of cooperation between researchers and innovators. Involving EU and national decision and policymakers, nature conservation and biosecurity experts in WG and fostering an active bi-directional interaction, will profoundly contribute to the knowledge-based economy and society and strengthen the human capital base in Widening countries. To maximise the efficiency and impact of HIVE, a system of institutional reforms will be adopted at CZU, involving administrative changes facilitating the work model of SESC, fostering HIVE’s sustainability in the post-EU funded period, and increasing FLD capacity to attract talent and contribute to reverting the progressive brain drain in Widening countries. Reforms will be adopted to increase the capacity to compete for prestigious research grants, ultimately contributing to HIVE`s sustainability. A dissemination and communication strategy is proposed to maximise the spill-over effect on CZU and WC.

In accordance with the internationalisation strategy of the Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS) and its Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences (FFWS), the project was based on previous collaboration of the FFWS, since 2011, when FFWS started to develop cooperation with important Kazakh Universities which offer education in forestry subjects in Kazakhastan, specifically with the Kazakh National Agrarian University Almaty (KazNAU), and with the S. Seifullin Agrotechnical University Astana (KazATU). The project, supported through the Erasmus+ Credit Mobility Programme KA107, identified and improved to a great extent the collaboration in the area of education and research, which could not have been performed without the support of the above mentioned Erasmus+ KA107 programme. Knowledge transfer and collaboration between the FFWS and the Faculties with forestry education of both the mentioned universities in Kazakhstan was strengthened, helping to increase the pedagogical and research activities of the Faculties in Kazakhstan (mainly in the areas of multiservice forests and forestry, forest protection and dendrology), including publication activities. Support was given by professors from FFWS to doctoral and master students from KazNAU a KazATU. As a result two Kazakh doctoral students defended successfully their dissertation works at their home universities under the leadership of the „international supervisor“, from FFWS.

The programme Erasmus+ and projects implemented in the key activities are essential for the internationalisation of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, in accordance with its strategic documents. The Erasmus+ programme allows our university to implement mobility of students, academic staff and support staff. Unfortunately, in the last years the number of outgoing students has been decreasing, which in fact reflects the decreasing numbers of enrolled students (proportionally to the overall numbers, in relative numbers there is a slight increase). There were 269 outgoing students and 532 incoming students on mobility from/to CULS Prague. The programme strengthens the European dimension of students. Our outgoing students acquire international experience and new cultural outlooks, in the sense of understanding the differences and also compare quality of education at their home university and the partner university (receiving institution) as well as the country they had the opportunity to experience during their stay. Students particularly appreciate studies abroad for their future employment, due to the fact the employers usually require such international experience. It is interesting to note that whereas 13 % of enrolled students at CULS are international students, 18 % of outgoing students in the framework of Erasmus+ are also international students. In the past years the number of outgoing staff members (particularly in the framework of STT Erasmus+) has increased significantly. The Erasmus+ programme is very conducive to the increase of international outlooks of our academic staff, particularly in personal contacts that they are able to make during their staff mobility.

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.

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.