Erasmus Policy Statement

Briefly describe the institution’s strategy, objectives and priorities for its Erasmus activities (mobility, multilateral projects and thematic networks, etc.) and any other actions in the context of the Lifelong Learning programme 2007-2013.

    Romania’s accession to the EU conferred to the Romanian Higher Education Institutions the possibility to take part to Erasmus programme. In this context, UNT, by its Faculty of Law, became a member of this programme in 2004. There were concluded partnerships with Malaga University from Spain and Panteion University from Greece. At present, UNT is developing the programme within its three Faculties (Law, Economic Sciences and Social and Administrative Sciences). Through LLP Erasmus, UNT aims at: promoting the academic excellence, institutional improvement; reducing the mobility obstacles by full academic recognition procedures, curricula compatibility, use of learning outcomes for curricula design, growing the number of mobile students, efficient administration of institutional grant, accuracy and transparency of the selection process, increasing placement quality; making non-mobile students benefit from Erasmus mobility through lectures held by incoming TS included in curricula, supporting the integration of incoming students through: social-cultural activities initiated by student associations, accommodation for all incoming students, with local students. UNT adopted the Bologna Process, the introduction and set of procedures and regulations for ECTS, Diploma Supplement. UNT signs agreements only with partners which meet the requirements of compatible academic excellence and full academic recognition based on ECTS.

What specific actions are planned to give visibility to Erasmus activities and what type of publicity will be given to the Erasmus University Charter and the EPS? What kind of arrangements, if any, does the Institution ensure to comply with non-discrimination objectives (e.g. actions related to gender equality, integration of disabled students and staff, enhancement of social and economic cohesion and combating of xenophobia and racism)?

    Erasmus activities will be widely promoted through: local and student media; UNT internal television; events for incoming and former/future outgoing students, including award ceremonies for “Erasmus” contests; brochures, website. Admission of students to UNT and access to the learning process are free of any discrimination concerning nationality, sex, religion, political allegiance. All available infrastructural, financial, academic means are used for improving the participation rate of geographically, socio-economically, physically de-favoured people in the learning process.

What kind of specific measures are implemented to ensure high quality in student placements? Give details on how the work-programme and the placement agreements are prepared and implemented. Please describe the practical arrangements agreed between the parties. Please specify also the monitoring and evaluation of the placement(s) period as well as its recognition in the curriculum.

    The principles of outgoing SM activities in UNT are: transparency and equal opportunity, maximisation of the number of mobility beneficiaries; full academic recognition based on ECTS. Candidates and the selected students benefit from: meetings with the University and Faculty Councils, Erasmus coordinators; guides explaining the steps/documents necessary for the selection/mobility preparation. Bilateral agreements are not signed until academic compatibility and complementarities are identified, ensuring a smooth way to academic recognition. Academic recognition procedures ensure an equal treatment for all outgoing students irrespective of partner/field of study. As for academic facilities, incoming students benefit from tutoring and examination in English or Romanian. As for staff mobility, teaching assignments in partner institutions is increasingly taken into account for internal quality evaluation. Professors whose intensive courses are included in the local curriculum are preferred in the selection process. One of the goals of TS incoming and outgoing mobility is for the non-mobile students to take benefit from the Erasmus Programme as well.

What kind of specific measures are implemented to ensure high quality in student placements? Give details on how the work-programme and the placement agreements are prepared and implemented. Please describe the practical arrangements agreed between the parties. Please specify also the monitoring and evaluation of the placement(s) period as well as its recognition in the curriculum.

    Coordination of the activities of preparation/implementation of the work-programme in UNT will be done through faculty offices. For outgoing students, UNT provides: a tutor’s counseling and supervision, facilities and documentation in its libraries. The work-programme will be set according to the beneficiary’s professional and cultural competences, the requirements of the host enterprise and the university curricula for the recognition of the placement period. The placement monitoring and evaluation will be permanently achieved individually by the tutor from the partner institutions, by the faculty offices. A Europass Mobility will be supported for each student placed, as well as a final questionnaire for evaluation. Based on the work-programme and the professional/placement certificates, UNT will offer full academic recognition based on ECTS if the practical work is included in the curricula or will include the placement outcomes as evaluated elements in curriculum modules (projects, case studies).