University of Edinburgh European Policy Statement Please describe

							                           University of Edinburgh
                          European Policy Statement

Please describe briefly your institution's strategy, objectives and priorities for its
Erasmus activities (mobility, multilateral projects, etc.) and any other actions in
the context of the Lifelong Learning Programme (2007 - 2013).

Please also provide information on the following points:
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)?

International and European co-operative activities, student and staff mobility play
a key role in the University of Edinburgh’s strategic plans. The University has a
fundamental strategic aim “To be truly international across the range of the
University’s activities” and is committed to a policy of raising its international
profile and reputation through promotion of international collaboration in
education, research and knowledge transfer, through intercultural exchange and by
creating an enriched environment for the university community.

Key to meeting these objectives is participation in the Erasmus programme.
Edinburgh already undertakes student and staff mobility programmes with over
163 institutions across 23 countries in Europe and is a participant in a large
number of EU funded projects. It is committed to offering more mobility (study or
placement) opportunities to students through better and more targeted promotion
activities – particularly in the area of science and technology - and to achieving
reciprocal flows. It currently has a target of increasing its student mobility activity
by 50% over a 5 year period.

An Erasmus Co-ordinator is responsible for promoting Erasmus activity and
liaises with College and Departmental Erasmus co-ordinators. The University
actively promotes Erasmus activities through its web site (including an Erasmus
specific section currently under re-construction), through a variety of publications
and through a series of information events including an Exchanges Fair. It utilises
returning students to raise the profile of the programme. Erasmus students were
recently filmed and short excerpts of their experiences will soon be available on
the web as media files- other interesting promotion activities are planned for 2008.

To extend its position as a leading international research and teaching institution
and to benchmark its performance against world-class standards, the University
strongly supports staff development activity and recognises that participation in
European mobility visits is a significant way of achieving this. Increasing the
number of staff participating in teaching and development activities in Europe is
an objective of the University’s Erasmus office.

The University is a member of the Coimbra Group and LERU and it is keen to
optimise its engagement in Europe – through quality partnerships and joint
teaching and research initiatives. It will support all actions available under the
new LLP which advance the University’s strategic objectives.

The University is committed to equality of opportunity. It has published an
Equality/Diversity Code of Practice, has set up an Equality/Diversity Committee
and has appointed an Equality and Diversity Manager to ensure compliance with
legislation and to promote equal opportunities/social inclusion. The University’s
Disability Office is committed to creating an environment in which staff and
students can participate fully in mainstream university life.

Quality of academic mobility activities:

What kind of specific measures are implemented in the institution to ensure high
quality in academic mobility activities? Details should be provided on:
recognition and credit systems, the provision of information on curricula,
information and counselling of outgoing students, tutoring and integration of
incoming students, provision of student services (in particular accommodation,
preparatory and refresher language courses, support and acknowledgment of staff
mobility.

The University of Edinburgh ensures high quality learning experiences for
incoming/outgoing mobility students through robust quality assurance procedures.
It looks to achieve reciprocal flows with its Erasmus partners and undertakes an
annual review and evaluation process.

Outgoing students select courses at the host university in consultation with their
Director of Studies/ Erasmus coordinator, utilising web based information and
materials from the exchanges resource library. Changes to learning contracts must
be agreed with the Erasmus Coordinator who maintains contact throughout the
study period.

Whilst studying abroad, an Edinburgh student must complete two evaluation
forms providing feedback on the academic/cultural experience. On return, a
student’s academic performance is considered by a committee which acts as an
Examination Board (with external examiner participation) and awards appropriate
credit (based on ECTS principles). Full academic recognition is given for the
Erasmus programme. A formal review process for exchanges occurs annually.

Incoming exchange students can access the Visiting Student Guide electronically.
It details all available courses. A student confirms courses on arrival to his/her
Director of Studies who provides academic support thoughout his/her stay. All
University facilities and services are open to incoming Erasmus students. Full
year students are guaranteed university accommodation; those on part year
programmes can utilise all the services of the Accommodation Office. An
extensive orientation programme is offered in September (with a smaller event in
January). The International Students Centre (which incorporates the ESN)
provides a range of events/trips to assist with integration and to maximise the
social and cultural benefits of the exchange. The University’s Institute for
Applied Language Studies offers subsidised English language support to Erasmus
students.
Staff are encouraged to undertake Teacher Mobility visits, are granted time out for
this purpose and must report on the value of the visit on their return.

Quality of student placement activities:

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

The University of Edinburgh ensures that all student placements meet the
principles of the UK Quality Assurance Agency’s Code of Practice on Placement
Learning. There are a variety of different types of placement activity currently
offered at the University and each subject is responsible for setting out and
implementing its own placement policy – within set guidelines.

The Placement Organiser in each discipline must determine whether a placement
is appropriate to ensure that students develop key skills and obtain relevant
experience, that learning outcomes are clearly defined and communicated to
students, that students are advised about accommodation and health and safety
issues and that the placement provider understands his responsibilities to the
student.

In some professional subject areas such as Teacher Education or Nursing Studies,
placements are formally organised for students. In other subjects, students, are
expected to generate the placement themselves – making contact with the
placement provider and obtaining initial agreements. The student then submits a
proposal to the Placement Organiser at Edinburgh for approval and a contract or
letter (as appropriate) is drawn up setting out the dates of the placement,
confirming that the student is subject to the same regulations/conditions applying
to all employees in the company and clarifying the health and safety
arrangements.

Students must be adequately prepared for the placement either by formal training
sessions or through written guidance. Throughout the placement, students
maintain regular email contact with the Placement Organiser who monitors and
evaluates the progress of the placement.

Visits to students may be undertaken by the Placement organiser when
appropriate. Students must submit a report on their return.
.Evaluation/assessment arrangements vary according to the type/scope of the
placement but credit is awarded for all approved placements. This is determined
by the appropriate board of Examiners.