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Mobility and cooperation outside EU – some lessons from Higher EducationJurgen Rienks, director international relations VSNU Amsterdam, 17 February 2016.

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14 Research universities in the Netherlands

Universities with a broad academic focus1 Erasmus University Rotterdam2 Leiden University3 Maastricht University4 Radboud University5 Tilburg University6 University of Amsterdam7 University of Groningen8 Utrecht University9 VU University of Amsterdam10 Open University

Engineering and technology11 Delft University of Technology12 Eindhoven University of Technology13 University of Twente

Life sciences, nutrition and living environment14 Wageningen University and Research Centre

Universities with a faculty of medicine

What questions to ask?

Universities / higher education institutions have engaged in cooperation and international networks for a long time. And for many reasons.

To translate their lessons to the VET-sector:

What is in it for your students? What is in it for your institution? What is in it for your country (or the EU)?

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What is in it for your students? Mobility as integrated / compulsory part of the

course (education and / or training experience) Skills relevant for a specific sector (e.g. nursing, green

sector, welding, installation technology, hospitality); Generic skills (e.g. learning to learn, entrepreneurship,

risk taking, creativity). Institutional responsibilities (if compulsory)

Automatic recognition of learning outcomes: study-effort or workexperience (ECVET);

Organisation of mobility programme by (or under suprvision of) institution ;

How to deal with student-expenses? Travel / stay / visa? Longtime investment in cooperation / network!

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What is in it for your institution? Mobility and cooperation work in two

directions. How does this fit with your institutional policy /

profile? Does it add to your reputation? (Note: which also

reflects on the degrees you award!) Longterm investment leads to longterm gains

Building the international network Agreement on educational efforts, study / training

periods, etc. Organisation of mobility programme by (or under

suprvision of) institution How to deal with student-expenses? Travel / stay /

visa?5

What is in it for your country / EU? A better skilled workforce

Relevant skills for (international oriented) workers. Is investment in international (degree)

students also of value to society? Intern. degree holders as ‘ambassador’ for your

country? Are they an addition to national or EU-labourforce? What is the cost-benefit analysis? Note: relevant skills of refugees as key to their

integration How can immigration regulations help?

Duration / fees / administrative procedures; Good cooperation with immigration services is a

necessity! 6

Questions to help the debate! Thank you for your attention.

rienks@vsnu.nl

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