The International Office awarded slightly over 1 000 000 Kc to ten projects in the first round of a new campaign called, Towards Better Internationalization or “To Be In”. The campaign’s design is to encourage the University’s mission of internationalization by supporting ongoing initiatives that will increase international student mobilities.
The Faculty of Science’s Math Department was one department that received support to continue the development of a student exchange between the University of Ostrava and two universities in Vietnam. Project manager Mgr. Věra Ferdiánová, Ph.D., hopes to sign Exchange Agreements with Universities in Ho Chi Minn City and Can Tho to support students studying in mathematics.
Similar efforts in the Faculty of Arts lead by Dr. Jan Mlčoch intend to cultivate relationships with the Autonomous University of Mexico State and the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, both in Mexico, as well as universities in Columbia. The efforts should yield student exchanges in 2018 – 2019.
Two other projects that received support intend to create or expand on existing joint degree programs. The Faculty of Social Studies is the administrator of the University’s sole joint degree program; the Master’s degree of Social Work and Social Economy includes lectures on social policy, social economy, social enterprises, project management and EU funding. Held between the University of Ostrava and FH Campus Wien, their approved project will expand and upgrade the field excursion portion of the degree program from 14 days to 31 days. Students will visit social organizations and, in teams, prepare project proposals in cooperation with these organizations.
Also of note is the Faculty of Arts’ Department of German Studies, which intends to build on an existing relationship with the University of Erlangen/Nurnberg. Project manager prof. PhDr. Lenka Vaňková, Dr. aims to prepare a joint doctoral program between OSU and the University of Erlangen/Nurnberg.
Another interesting proposal is the Faculty of Fine Arts’ initiative to implement cooperation with universities in Korea including the prestigious Korea National University of Arts. Three selected delegates of the Faculty (E. Dřízgová /soprano, CSP/ – I. Františák /clarinet, KDN/ – M. Bárta /piano, KKN/) aim to enhance mobility of exchange students (both incoming and outgoing) as well as to recruit self-paying students to the Faculty of Fine Arts.
Overall, the 10 projects funded by the ToBeIn fund should increase student mobilities in 2018 and help bring the university closer to achieving its internationalization strategy. The next call for proposals is to be opened in November.