Workshop Outcomes – Peace Education for Karazin University, and GRT inclusion in higher education.

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Events.

On 30 June 2022, two workshops titled ‘Developing a Peace Education Programme for Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine’ and ‘Removing barriers to Higher Education for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers’, were organised and moderated by Dr Spyros Themelis (UEA) and Dr Selma Porobic (Palacky University Olomouc) at the University of East Anglia (UEA). The two workshops, implemented under the framework of the Culture: Identity and Diversity pilot domain were a great success and will produce concrete outcomes in the future.

‘Developing a Peace Education Programme for Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine’

One of the developing features of Aurora support to Karazin Kharkiv National University is peace education programme. Peace education is an emerging field focusing on peacebuilding efforts through education in situations of collective trauma such as war, mass displacement, and genocide. This pedagogy focuses on the creation of safe environments for teachers and students to foster dialogue and reflection by enabling sharing of their own traumatic (and often conflictual) narratives and supporting perspective-taking.  

Under the guidance of Dr. Selma Porobić, this workshop brought together 14 experts from over 9 different institutions, and aimed to  explore a collaborative model focusing on the development of peace education programme for Karazin Kharkiv University. During the group discussion two set of questions were addressed. Group A focused on how to develop Peace education (PE) as integral part of general competences for academicians at Karazin, while Group B focused on researching PE in the ongoing war situation in the city of Kharkiv and in the Eastern Ukraine.

Among the most significant outcomes of this workshop, are the establishment of the International Expert team for peace education platform at Karazin University and initial planning of peace education programme including timeline for different components, research methods, staff training and COILs.

Thanks to the SPACE Network, represented in the workshop by Elke Kitzelmann (UIBK), an initial donation was made towards the realization of the Peace Education platform and further Aurora collaborations with Karazin University. In addition, collaborations with UIBK’s new MA Peace Studies program, under prof. Andreas Oberprantacher were initiated as well.  As part of International Summer School in Refugee Law and Rights, co-organized by Palacky University and Karazin University, on August 24th, students from UIBK’s Peace studies  program will engage with Karazin University’s MA students in the plenary session ‘ Prospects for Peace Building, Recovery & Reconstruction.’

We look forward to engagement from more Aurora universities. Enquiries about the PE program at Karazin University can be sent to Dr. Selma Porobić, coordinator for Aurora support to Karazin University.

‘Removing barriers to Higher Education for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers’

Gypsy, Roma and Travellers (GRT) are the largest ethnic minority and at the same time the most marginalised in Europe. It is little surprise, therefore, that they are also one of the most, if not the most, underrepresented group in higher education.

This workshop explored the types of barriers facing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students in accessing Higher Education and experiences of inclusion and exclulsion. In total 15 participants attended the event, including academics, practitioners, reseach students, as well as inclusion leaders in schools and local councils. Participants were of Roma and non-Roma origin and they shared perspectives from a variety of European countries (including Germany, Greece, Iceland,  Sweeden, the Czech Republic, Romania and the UK) and institutional contexts, including, schools, universisties, musuems and local couincils.

One of the outcomes of this workshop, was the decision to create a network of Roma inclusion research in higher education. It was also agreed that this network will aim to map national and international policies of inclusion and examine national and international reports relevant to the topic. Finally, it was agreed that the network will explore the possiblity of setting up courses on Roma education across the Aurora network and more broadly, and work with outreach officers to explore innovative practices on access.

Dr. Spyros Themelis, who led the workshop, will explore options for hosting a face-to-face meeting at the start of the new academic year. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved, please email Spyros at: s.themelis@uea.ac.uk.

We welcome contributions from across all Aurora universities.

 

Aurora at the Campus of European Universities

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Events.

On the 30th of June, 2022, Aurora was present at the Campus of European Universities, organized in the framework of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Palacký University was represented by a strong delegation, consisting of Rector Martin Procházka and the Vice-rector for Science and Research, Lucie Plíhalová.    

The Campus marked the final Higher Education Event organized under the French Presidency before handing this role over to the Czech Republic. Radka Wildová, Czech Deputy Minister of Higher Education provided one of the closing speeches for the event, further highlighting the importance of European Universities alliances during the Czech tenure of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Radka Wildová, Czech Deputy Minister of Higher Education at the Campus of European Universities.

 

The event aimed to “promote the European Universities alliances and transnational cooperation in the fields of higher education, research and innovation,” inspired by the Council Recommendation on “building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation.”

The event featured both plenary sessions and workshops, in addition to the “Village of Alliances”, an exhibition space where each of the 41 European University alliances was represented with a dedicated booth.

Aurora President Jon Atli Benediktsson stated that the Campus proved a great opportunity “to share our experience and discuss the future with other delegates and alliances”.

More information on the event can be found here. 

Aurora Doctoral Pool online at the Aurora Virtual Campus

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Students.

Bringing together international academics and PhD. Candidates, Aurora is pleased to present the opportunities of the Aurora Doctoral Pool.

For Ph.D. students, the doctoral pool can put you in touch with international experts who are willing to help you with your research, for example, in the role of a secondary supervisor, mentor or dissertation opponent. You search for and contact these experts easily through the Aurora Doctoral Pool Database. 

For academics, the doctoral pool will allow you to work with the brightest Ph.D. candidates from across the Aurora universities and it will give you opportunities, to for example serve on doctoral committees at these universities.  This will of course be a great door-opener to potential research collaboration projects.

Launched as part of the Aurora Virtual Campus, the Aurora Doctoral Pool currently has a database of almost 300 experts in various research field from across our partner universities. Interested academics are welcome to register here.

International Summer School in Refugee Law and Rights

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Events, Students.

We are proud to announce the Call for 9th International Summer School in Refugee Law and Rights, this year co-organized between Palacky University Olomouc and V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University with the title: “War-displaced Persons Protection Rights – Case study Ukraine“.

ISS 2022 UP_Karazin Aurora

The school is a continuation of Aurora CDS fundraising and support programme, and a donation to V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.  It is hosted by Law Faculty at Palacky University in Olomouc as a 10-day hybrid training event, possible to attend in-person and online.  

More information can be found via the flyers below and on the official website www.refugees.upol.cz  

Please note the deadline to apply is June 15th!

ISS Call 2022 UP_Karazin_

ISS 2022 UPKarazin Call Aurora

How to innovate your research – Free Online Ph.D. Course on 13, 16 and 21 June 2022

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Students.

The Universitat Rovira i Virgili from Tarragona presents this FREE online course, imparted in English and designed by doctoral students, as a first approach to co-creation methodologies that Ph.D. students can apply to their research, professional and personal life. Learn how to think about the future in the ideation process and go from idea to action in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment!

Full in formation and the course and its objectives can be found here. 

The course will take place 13, 16 and 21 June 2022 on from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.

The course has 21 places, 13 for URV and 8 for Aurora PhD students. The places will be given according to the order of registration, which guarantees the teams’ multidisciplinary.

1. You can apply through this online form. Registration deadline is 31/05/22.

2. If you are selected to join the course, you will receive a confirmation email before 02/06/2022.

3. In the following days, you will find the email with the link to the virtual campus with all the needed material and links.

For any additional information, please contact our local Aurora Office: aurora@urv.cat

Aurora Spring Biannual a great success for Palacký University

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Featured, Students.

The Aurora Spring Biannual which took place in Innsbruck between the 10th and the 12th of May was a great success for Palacký University, looking back on our achievements so far and paving the way for the road ahead.  

Palacký University Olomouc has been elected to become a full member of the Aurora Network, now giving us full access to decision-making within Aurora.  

Palacký University Olomouc was awarded this improved position due to our excellent contribution to the Aurora European University Alliance programme, leading by example in its implementation.

The Aurora Network is focused on fulfilling the global mission of Aurora, stretching beyond the borders of Europe and the European Universities Initiative. Its various tasks include lobbying, international outreach, and collaboration with non-European partners in the field of education and research.    

JUDr. Mag. iur. Michal Malacka, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Regional Affairs and UP’s Aurora Strategic Manager: “We are really pleased with the great success of our entire UP team in paving the way towards becoming a full member of the Aurora Network after one and half year of intense Aurora Alliance collaborations. Network membership guarantees the full potential of our university to accelerate towards becoming global leaders in innovative education, research, and sustainable growth.”

During the biannual special consideration was given to the horrendous aggressions faced by our Ukrainian colleagues at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Tetyana Kaganovska, the president of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University made the perilous journey from Kharkiv to Innsbruck to show appreciation for our support raising a substantial amount of money  and support to Karazin University’s continuing academic mission.

Other important takeaways of the Biannual are UP signing a Letter of Intent with our Aurora Partners to create an innovative European Master’s degree in Digital Society & Global Citizenship. “Palacký University’s contribution to the development of this European Degree is a great opportunity for us to be at the forefront of these cutting-edge developments” according to Vit Zouhar, Vice-rector for Education. This interdisciplinary joint-degree will be developed in the months to come.

Student participation is at the heart of Aurora’s mission and goals through Aurora Student Schemes. Starting this summer, they are being led by Palacký University. A call for application will be published at the end of June.

Sustainable growth and development, one of the main topics of the biannual, remains an important priority for all Aurora Universities.  Zuzana Hunkova, Palacký University’s Coordinator for Sustainable Development: “We have proposed to the Board of Presidents that each university will count their baseline CO2e emissions, implement Aurora travel codex, and set and publish at least three targets from eight areas defined in the Sustainable Campus Action Plan.”

For more information on the excellent work of the Aurora Universities, and our continued collaboration offering opportunities to our students make sure to visit our renewed website aurora-universities.eu or aurora.upol.cz

Press statement – President of V.N Karazin Kharkiv University, Ukraine on the Aurora Biannual in Innsbruck

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Students.

During the Aurora Spring Biannual special consideration was given to the horrendous aggressions faced by our Ukrainian colleagues at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Tetyana Kaganovska, the rector of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University made the perilous journey from Kharkiv to Innsbruck to appeal for our support, below you will find her statement . 

Original PDF Available here.  

“I travelled here to be with you, despite of the dangerous journey through my home country to share my feelings and gratitude. Right now we are going through its hardest survival moments since Ukrainian independence. I come bearing a witness of war, killing and displacement of my staff and students. In these moments, I am especially honored to be able to in-person represent our community of Kharkiv Karazin University from the East of Ukraine.

Our University is a consolidated team of 28,000 employees and students, proud of their educational institution’s 217-year history. According to the QS rating, we are the best Ukrainian university, the country’s powerhhouse of educational and scientific resources. The University is the heart of Kharkiv, and it remains in Kharkiv, despite the city’s being shelled and numerous attempts of siege lasting for 77 days.

We were able to shelter the University’s staff and students as best we could and launched the educational process remotely on the 33rd day of the war. Our teachers give lectures from basements and shelters, and those who have left the country – from different parts of the world. Many students volunteer by day and study by night. Many of our students, teachers, graduates are now among the defenders of Ukraine. The University’s humanitarian headquarters is working to help those who were hit the hardest. We are working on the restoration of the destroyed buildings, the sports complex and dormitories.

Unfortunately, there are irreparable losses in the University family. At least 17 people are known to have perished, among them 2 students, 5 professors and 10 alumni’s.

And yet, we are fighting and actively planning the future University activities. We continue to cooperate with partners in Ukraine and abroad as we believe that the values of freedom and justice will prevail. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Aurora Alliance partners who from the very first days of invasion were active in supporting and helping. Partners who encouraged us, gave hope that all the European Academic Community is backing up Ukraine.

The dedicated team of Aurora CDS (Community Development Support program) immediately reacted to our newly faced war-conditions. We worked together to assess the urgent needs. The Action plan was created. The plan where the supporting mission for “right now”, “short-term” and “long term” help was highlighted. First, it was a financial aid to support our on-line education. But, what is more important that Action plan projects the needs into long-term collaborations with all the partner universities. It will help Karazin to overcome the war destruction, and to rebuild our future.

Moreover, half of the staff and student are now displaced, internally or abroad, being hosted by the Aurora universities as well. We are deeply moved and grateful for all European universities providing them opportunity to work and study in these extreme conditions for us. We have a strong wish to be able to join you as academic community and as reliable partner as soon as the war ends. I took a personal risk to both thank you for your support and to tell you that we will resist and prevail in our fight for independence and democracy.”

Tetyana Kaganovska, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv University President

 

 

Exciting Hybrid Workshop about Generation Z and Co-engaging your Student Communities

Written by R N on . Posted in Academics, Events, Students.

Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, refers to the youngest generation born between 1996 and 2010, that will soon after finishing their studies enter the workforce and become a leading and influential part of the society. 
 
Would you like to learn more about the Gen Z while addressing them with different information at your institutions? 
 
Together with Strateggo, a Prague-based Strategic Marketing Agency, Palacký University conducted an extensive survey in November 2021, and would like to share the findings that can be relevant to all Aurora universities, working on the co-engagement of their young student communities.

The workshop on Generation Z with Mr. Císař from Strateggo will be held on May 12 from 10:00-12:00 in a hybrid form at Palacký University @ Tř. Svobody 26, room 4.41.

Participants can register online for both in-person and online participation by using these two links:

Palacký participants University can register via this link: https://czv-up.upol.cz/cs/registration/2353/detail/terms

Aurora Participants and from Associate partners can register via this link: https://czv-up.upol.cz/en/registration/2355/detail/terms

 

Capacity Development Support (CDS) Awareness Raising and Training event at University of Tetova, North Macedonia (30-31 March 2022)

Written by R N on . Posted in Academics, CDS-Network, Events, Students.

The 4th CDS Awareness Raising and Training event was hosted by the University of Tetova (UT) in North Macedonia on 30-31 March 2022. It was organized in collaboration with the Aurora CDS Task Team at Palacky University (UP) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). The central theme of the event was: “Transforming Higher Education with a focus on Social entrepreneurship & Diversity and inclusion”. The two-day training event took place in hybrid format: online via Zoom and face-to-face at UT campus in Tetova. The event was open to academic and non-academic staff of the Associate university partners and members of the broader CDS Network involved in teaching, students’ mobility, internationalization of study programmes and university social engagement.

Training on social entrepreneurship was conducted online by Prof. Kai Hockerts (Copenhagen Business School) and Dr. Ondřej Kročil and Prof. Jaroslava Kubátová (Palacky University Olomouc). Diversity and inclusion was presented in person by Prof. Ruard Ganzevoort (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).

The training sessions were video-recorded and made available together with all training materials through the AURORA-CDS virtual catalogue: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lUMjCSIOUHjvfdhDrl8EWG37ciRvhEV-?usp=sharing.

Sharing Experiences: Let’s talk about internationalization

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Academics, Events.

Join us for our monthly lunch talk! This is a series where members of Aurora universities working or interested in the field of internationalisation are invited to share experiences, debate and ask questions. The aim is to create an interactive get-together where we can learn from each other, share ideas and good practices.

The coming months, we will dive into the following topics: 

5 April 2022, 13:00–14:00 h CET
Student wellbeing point: Peer-to-peer student support at the Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam – Kimberly van den Ouden (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

3 May 2022, 13:00–14:00 h CET
How to reach and engage students: Using social media in study abroad
Nanna Teitsdóttir (University of Iceland), Verena Heuking (University of DuisburgEssen)

Flyer Lunch Talk Internationalisation

The lunch talk will take place on Zoom every first Tuesday of the month from 13:00-14:00 h CET. Registration is not necessary, just stop by!

Join now via Zoom!

Meeting ID: 623 8843 3921

Passcode: 420193