International Projects

1. Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Spain – http://www.upc.edu/
2. Beihang University, People's Republic of China – http://ev.buaa.edu.cn/
3. Narxoz University, Kazakhstan – http://narxoz.kz/ru
4. Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade, Kazakhstan – https://kuef.kz/ru/
5. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden – https://www.kth.se/
6. L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan – http://www.enu.kz/ru/
7. Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia – https://www.ttu.ee/en/
8. Tongji University, People's Republic of China – http://www.tongji.edu.cn/english/
9. University of Lisbon, Portugal – https://www.ulisboa.pt/
10. Rovira i Virgili University, Spain – http://www.urv.cat/en/
11. University of Perpignan Via Domitia, France – http://www.univ-perp.fr/

KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm), April 16–20, 2018

From April 16 to 20, 2018, a WELCOME project training was held at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden (Stockholm). The training focused on KTH's practices in developing internationalization and supporting the adaptation of international students and faculty; there were also presentations by representatives of Tallinn University of Technology and the Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon).

The trainers were employees of various structures and units, including the university administration.

On April 19, a project meeting was held during which issues were discussed regarding the creation of a portal to attract international students, the discussion of the Quality report, and the establishment of international centers at universities in Kazakhstan and China. The procedure for meetings and the holding of national and international conferences on disseminating information were also discussed.

Following the meeting, group work, presentation discussions and a campus tour were also conducted.

At the closing session, certificates were presented to all participants.

Tallinn University of Technology, June 4–7, 2018

From June 4 to 7, 2018, a training on the internationalization of higher education was held at Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) (Estonia), with the participation of representatives of the Higher Technical Institute (Portugal), Beihang University (China), and Tongji University (China), partners of the Project. The Republic of Kazakhstan was represented at the training by the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Karaganda State Medical University, and Narxoz University.

The training program included presentations by TUT representatives, in which contemporary issues in science, marketing and marketing policy, international cooperation, and internationalization were presented. In addition, TUT representatives shared their experience in the field of human resource management, the system for staff advancement and motivation, and support for international students.

The role of the international department in the overall internationalization of the university, the implementation of strategic goals and policies in 2010-2018, and the promotion of its products to the market was considered separately.

During the discussion of the presentation results, the training participants shared their experience in planning and implementing an internationalization strategy within the framework of student exchange.

The program concluded with a project meeting on the progress of platform development and a review of the project's WP status. At the end of the training, all participants were awarded certificates.

Tallinn University of Technology is one of the largest universities in Estonia and the country's leading technical university. Its interdisciplinary educational and research programs enable it to successfully meet market demands and compete with leading universities of a similar profile.

Polytechnic University of Catalonia, November 19–23, 2018

From November 19 to 23, 2018, a workshop on developing a strategic plan for university internationalization was held at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. As part of this workshop, all participants practiced building a common internationalization strategy that can subsequently be used in developing their own strategies.

The workshop was conducted by trainers Vicenc Fernandez and Eva Gallardo. Vicenc developed the strategy with the Kazakhstani partners, while Eva developed the strategy with the Chinese partners.

Project meetings were held on November 21, where financial matters, portal development, the work of international centers, the conduct of training sessions, the holding of information dissemination conferences, quality assurance, and project sustainability were discussed.

Also, within the framework of the training, there was a theoretical part on developing an internationalization strategy, as well as tours of the campus, the international office, and the center for international students.

At the end, all participants were awarded certificates of participation.

Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, May 29 – June 2

From May 29 to June 2, a training on the internationalization of higher education was held at the Technical Institute of Lisbon (Portugal) with the participation of universities from partner countries.

The training program included master classes, discussions, and presentations by representatives of universities from Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, and Estonia. The participating universities' presentations covered the following topics: "Internationalization Policy and Strategy", "Strategic Planning", "Support Services", "Mobility and Cooperation", "International Rankings", "Double Degrees and Employment", and "Exchange Programs / Summer Schools".

Participants shared their experience in planning and implementing internationalization strategies, activities within the exchange of faculty members and students, and conducting training sessions for university staff. In addition, the importance of rankings and the idea of involving all employees in the internationalization process for the effective operation of universities was noted.

The program concluded with participants' final reports on the topics covered as part of internationalization. Upon completion of the seminar, all participants were issued certificates.

From December 8 to 12, 2017, an international conference on internationalization was held as part of the implementation of the WELCOME project sponsored by Erasmus+. The conference was held at the leading Chinese university Tongji, located in China's economic center, the city of Shanghai. As part of the rich conference program, the problems and prospects for the development of the internationalization process were considered, as well as specific measures to improve the level of internationalization of Chinese and Kazakhstani partner universities, and international practices of leading foreign partner universities were presented and studied.

On December 8, the first project meeting was held, during which issues concerning the financial part of the project were settled and reviewed by the project's financial manager, Toni Florencio, a representative of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. A discussion was held on such issues as the problem of disseminating information about the project, the sustainability, and the quality of the project's implementation.

On December 9, the official opening of the conference took place with the participation of the esteemed Professor Shu Guanming, Vice-Rector of Tongji University, as well as Ms. Yu Jin, the project's institutional coordinator at the university. Techniques, methods and a comparative analysis of international practices in the level of internationalization were presented by Ms. Li Ying, Deputy Director of the International Office of Beihang University (Beijing, China). Within the context of the WELCOME project, Anna Aganta Lucas, coordinator of international programs at IST University (Lisbon, Portugal), delivered a presentation. On behalf of the Kazakhstani partners, Ms. Saule Kassymova, Director of the International Department of Karaganda State Medical University, presented a report on the Internationalization of Higher Education in Kazakhstan.

December 10 was devoted to presentations by representatives of partner universities, including from KazUEFMT, as well as the holding of round tables.

Ms. Laura Lerga, project manager at the Rovira i Virgili University (Spain), with a presentation Systematic Improvement of the University in Internationalization.

Ms. Madley Crispin — project manager of Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia), with a report on Internationalization at Tallinn University of Technology.

Ms. Shinar Imangaliyeva - Director of the International Relations Department of Narxoz University, with a presentation entitled «Internationalization Both at Home and Abroad in the Context of the Student-Centered Policy of Kazakhstani Universities».

3 round tables were held.

1) Online tools and resources. How to assess the level of a university's internationalization? Moderator: Professor Vicenc Fernandez. During the round table, a presentation was delivered on behalf of our alma mater — KazUEFIT — by leading IT specialist, PhD Professor Serik Altynbek, on the topic: "Online resources and tools as ways to increase the level of internationalization of universities."

2) The future of student support centers with a focus on internationalization. Moderator Miss Sabina Mendygazieva (ENU).

3) How to train faculty and staff to achieve the highest level of university internationalization? Moderator Miss Laura Lerga.

On December 11, the final project meeting was held, during which the results and outcomes of the international conference were summarized, and subsequent directions were determined for achieving and implementing the goals and objectives set for the project.

Monitoring

On October 18 at 3:00 p.m., a consultation meeting with project teams was held at Karaganda State Medical University, organized by the National Coordinator of the Erasmus+ Programme in Kazakhstan, Ms. Sh.U. Tasbulatova.

During the consultation meeting, the main difficulties and challenges in managing the WELCOME project, ways of resolving them, the main stages of the project, and the organization of a kick-off meeting for new projects were discussed. At the conclusion of the consultation meeting, the project representatives had the opportunity to personally ask questions to the national coordinator of the Erasmus+ program in Kazakhstan, Sh.U. Tasbulatova.