Work Package 1: Project management
WP 1 aims to coordinate and manage all project activities assuring timely delivery of planned outcomes, with expected or required quality. University of Novi Sad (UNS), as project coordinator, will perform the planning, organization, coordination and control functions to ensure effective implementation of the project. UNS will establish and strengthen functional connections with all partner institutions and support them in achieving their goals and achieving planned project tasks. At the beginning of the project, all project partners will attend a kick-off meeting to ensure that all partners have the same understanding of the project management principles and tasks to be performed. The kick-off meeting will take place in Tirana at UNYT University. Partner institutions and members of project management will communicate on daily basis via e-mail, phone, Skype, etc. During the period of the project, besides kick-off meeting, 8 coordination meetings will be organized (once every six months) for discussing issues that arise during the project and coordination of the following project activities. Estimated duration of these meetings is 2-4 days. In the case of partners from Albania, Local Committee (LC) will be organized for implementation of project activities and reporting on the overall project management to the Steering Committee (SC). LC will be responsible for the project implementation at national level and the preparation of 2 annual reports to the SC. LC will meet twice a year. One person will be selected from each partner institution, who will be responsible for the visibility of project activities, i.e. activities related to public relations and promotion of the project activities at the national / institutional level. Representatives of national educational institutions will be regularly informed and kept informed of progress in the project but will not be directly involved in the LC. This work package consists of 4 complex activities for entire duration of the project, which will deliver the final outcome of the work package.
Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective to which this working package is linked is:
- Implementation of dual education into HE systems in Albania
Work Package 2: Research and needs analysis
WP2 aims to investigate the best practices in EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme regarding dual education and at least 15 programs across different industrial sectors will be presented and discussed. 30 representatives of higher education, companies, policy makers in HE, will travel to EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme (Austria, and Serbia) to learn about practice of dual higher education. Parallel with study visits, a survey on companies about their needs regarding dual education across industries will be conducted. Each partner from Albania will analyse needs of companies. Results of the survey will be discussed on consortium meetings where representatives of different stakeholders will participate.
The main activities in this WP are: 2.1. Analysis of practices and experiences in EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme; 2.2. Survey of companies needs for DHE in Albania; 2.3. Discussion forum on the needs analysis with key stakeholder and policy maker.
Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective to which this working package is linked is:
- Development of generic model of dual education (DUALBA model) to support different needs and interests of students, companies, higher education institutions
- (HEIs) in Albania and to provide recommendations to HEIs for implementation of dual education in Albania
Work Package 3: Generic Dual Higher Education Model (DUALBA model)
WP3 aims to develop a Generic Dual Higher Education Model (hereinafter: DUALBA model). In this working package project team will develop dual higher education model in Albania – DUALBA model. This model will be flexible and generic, with possibility to be adjusted and implemented in Albania. DUALBA model will summarize the needs of all stakeholders, from companies and HEIs to students and policy makers, collected and analysed in the first work package. The model will offer flexible solutions regarding communication between students, HEIs and companies, duration of internship, financial incentives, student wages, exams, contractual documents etc. The Conference on DUALBA added value on industrial sector will be held by the end of the M14, with the topic of improvement of competencies of dual students with respect to the needs of companies. Participation of wide range of stakeholders is provided by the ministry and companies. DUALBA model will represent a base for development of specific dual models n WP4, as well as proposals for improvement of legal and strategic framework regarding dual higher education in Albania. The model will include the set of defined contractual documents: the final form of templates/documents for the implementation of the practical phases will be established (letters of intention, agreements for practical stages in companies, timetables, labour protection forms, final assessment reports). Partners from program countries will share contract example documents and good practices.
The main activities in this WP are: 3.1. Development of generic DUALBA model; 3.2. Conference on DUALBA added value to industrial sector; 3.3. Discussion Forum on the proposed DUALBA model with key stakeholders and policy makers.
Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective of the project to which this working package is linked are:
- Development of generic model of dual education (DUALBA model) to support different needs and interests of students, companies, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Albania and to provide recommendations to HEIs for implementation of dual education in Albania.
- Improved cooperation between HEIs and employers (companies) through dual education
Work Package 4: Creation of Legal and Strategic Framework for Implementation of dual higher education
In this working package project team with representatives of stakeholders will develop proposals for change of legal and strategic framework in higher education in order to create base for introduction of dual education into higher education of Albania. Since 5 Albanian HEIs will participate, 5 working groups, for every HEI will be made. In all working groups representatives of HEIs, policy makers, students and companies will participate. Every working group will consider Law on Higher Education. Working groups will create the documents with the proposal of the amendments to the legislation as well as amendments to the accreditation standards The changes in all other secondary laws connected to education, labor market and high education will be proposed as well. The proposals of the amendments for considered legal acts will be submitted to the authorities. In the first phase, the documents will follow the legal practice from EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme considered within the WP2, especially the example from Serbia because of similar legal framework and recent experience regarding implementation of dual education into higher education. This is why the study visit to Serbia is planned right before the work in this WP. Special contribution to this WP will be done by assistants from the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth and the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education of Albania. In addition, at the final phase of this WP a document on Recommendations to HEIs in Albania on how to implement dual higher education will be created, in order to initiate implementation and development of dual education in the entire Albania. The main activities in this WP are: 4.1. Creating amendments to the legislation on higher education and creating a draft legislation on dual education; 4.2. Creating amendments to the Labour legislation; 4.3. Creating amendments to the Accreditation Criteria; 4.4. Discussion forum on draft proposals of amendments; 4.5. Creating recommendations to HEIs in Albania how to implement DHE.
Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective of the project to which this working package is linked are:
- Improvement of legal and strategic framework in Albania in order to adapt dual education
Work Package 5: Pilot testing of the generic DUALBA model
WP5 aims to develop at least one own specific dual model in the selected industrial sector at each HEI partner from Albania. The first task is the identification of industrial sector, the overall needs of companies in that sector and definition of the specific dual concept. Each HEI will present the defined specific dual concept to at least 6 selected companies in order to make agreements for their participation in dual study programme. After agreement with companies on their participation in dual higher education, HEIs will create detailed plan of dual educational programme, purchase relevant equipment and create training materials in cooperation with companies and partners from program countries. The core of this WP is the implementation of specific dual models. After finalization of dual programmes implementation, the analysis of the obtained results will be performed. This analysis will include the employer’s satisfaction, number of employed dual students, the number of work positions that participating companies offered to dual students, the number of enrolled dual students, social structure of enrolled students and other relevant statistics. The toolkit will be designed as a resource for academic staff and industrial supervisors in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the dual education components. The toolkit will contain a flowchart, checklists, guidelines, as well as standardized procedures and forms for the documentation of the communication process as a mean for assessment of students’ performance and documentation for the quality assurance. The output will facilitate the synchronisation between university-based and workplace-based study elements. The main activities in this WP are: 5.1. Identification and conceptual definition of specific dual models; 5.2. Presenting specific dual models to companies and making agreements for participation; 5.3. Planning of pilot testing of specific dual models; 5.4. Purchase of equipment; 5.5. Development of training materials; 5.6. Development of toolkit for implementation and documentation of dual practice-integrated higher education programmes; 5.7. Pilot implementation and testing of specific dual models; 5.8. Analysis of the results of pilot testing.
Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective of the project to which this working package is linked are:
- Implementation of dual education into HE systems in Albania
- Enabling students to learn more relevant knowledge and skills through dual education
Work Package 6: QA and monitoring
WP6 aims to establish the quality control and monitoring process following the conditions and requirements of the project, especially relying on the experience of EU partners that have successfully implemented dual study programs and already involved in Erasmus+ project CBHE. The quality control and monitoring consists of 3 activities planned for the entire duration of the project, which will deliver the final outcome of the work package. The purpose of these activities is: a) Development of quality and assessment plan; b) Internal project monitoring and control; c) Report on external evaluation.
During the course of the project, quality control will be carried out according to developed quality and assessment plan. Quality control of the project will be done through a series of evaluation meetings, especially through a series of Local Committee meetings; all organized and linked to other project events, for the reasons of cost-effectiveness. At these meetings the project directions can be discussed, and eventual corrections can be initiated. The kick-off meeting at the beginning of the project will assure that all project members will have the same notions about the quality assurance process. All partners will generate and submit internal reports about performed quality control activities in DUALBA project. They will be in contact with each other and resolve problems about reaching of milestones. All internal reports will be submitted to Steering Committee, which will generate and submit final report about quality. By public call two external experts will be chosen to evaluate the outputs of the DUALBA project and to write the report.
.Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective of the project to which this working package is linked are:
- Implementation of dual education into HE systems in Albania
Work Package 7: Dissemination and Exploitation of Results
The aim of dissemination is to bring project aims, benefits and results close to participants and stakeholders in the academic as well as non-academic world of the participating countries and beyond. The key goal of this WP is to raise awareness of all stakeholders of benefits of DUALBA which should ensure sustainability of project results end initiate development of dual study program in Albania. Additionally, this will be a possibility to promote development of study programs based on dual education. With help of non-academic partners (the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and industrial sector), wide range of stakeholders will be reached with our dissemination activities and products. This WP starts with project’s visual identity (project logo, motto and web site). Further on, different kinds of activities are considered: social media sites, participation at education fairs, presentations of specific model of dual education to college students, etc. The final dissemination report is to be prepared in last stages of the project. At the end, final conference will be organized with the aim of demonstration of achievements of the project and working out plans for the sustainability of project result.
.Based on the above mentioned, the specific objective of the project to which this working package is linked are:
- Implementation of dual education into HE systems in Albania