ERASMUS

Erasmus Policy Statement

The Wroclaw College of Humanities was established in 2002 as the first non-state university in Lower Silesia which enables studies in the field of humanities, mechanics, economics and medicine. As a result of the growing job market the school is working on new majors and postgraduate courses, also in cooperation with companies and institutions to fit their needs. Along with the schools development, i.e. creating new majors, hiring new academic teachers, outward extension – building a new school wing, all result of continually growing number of students and staff, there arose the idea of international cooperation, which would involve student and staff exchange as well as initiating joint academic research. The main aim is to upgrade the quality of education, make it more student-attractive, create our faculty and staff new academic and didactic development possibilities. Overall, we exercise the policy of openness to European and international co-operation.

In order to achieve these aims the school established an International Relations Office and hired a coordinator. By establishing contacts with universities in Germany, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey we already may offer our students and staff exchange possibilities. We expect that this initiated cooperation will be a platform for future thematical networks and organising joint study programs with classes carried out in two languages. This would be the next step to obtain double-diplomas for our future graduates. For example, an interdisciplinary conference for the second half of 2008 is planned, in cooperation with German and Czech universities and institutions. Both student and academic staff participation is welcome. Our cooperation with other universities inclined us to search for new partners among foreign trade companies and institutions, where are students will be able to have internships.

All information concerning the Erasmus program, its goals, aims, objectives, participation conditions, is available online on the schools website and presented at special presentations at each department. The Erasmus Chart and Erasmus Policy statement are also available online. Furthermore, the aforementioned documents are attainable in printed version at the International Relations Office. Both interested in the programme students and staff of our Alma Mater as well as foreign schools or institutions may contact directly the International Relations coordinator for explicit information.

The aims and goals of the program were presented to the students during, among others, a research carried out by the school, which was to define the level of interest in potential participating in such a scheme. The results of the questionnaire indicated vast amount of positive attitude and interest in such a possibility. Over 90% of the group declared willingness to participate. The students are aware of the benefits they may gain by studying abroad, i.e. acquiring knowledge, developing better second/third language competence. The Erasmus scholarship would enable a larger proportion fruition of these plans.

The Wroclaw College of Humanities opposes to any form of discrimination and, moreover, actively participates in the integration of disabled students and staff. For example, the program of physiotherapy is adjusted to the needs of partially-sighted students. Moreover, the new school wing will be adapted for students/staff who use wheelchairs or are disabled in any other way. Additionally, the school funded a special scholarship system, which offers aid for students who have financial difficulties. Students may apply for academic scholarships grants, special scholarships for disabled students, financial aid for alimentation and living, also education maintenance allowances. So far, there has been no record of discrimination on base of sex, race, religion, or/and nationality.

The International Relations Office coordinates all actions concerning the Erasmus program. The coordinator is responsible for assuring high quality, as well as providing necessary help for students and staff participating in the scheme–information, preparation of documentation, arrangements concerning travel and stay. Furthermore, the coordinator in cooperation with our student organisation takes care of any visiting students or staff, e.g. help in commuting to the school and boarding, organises spare time, organising a Polish language course, arranging a possibility of tutoring. Additionally, help in finding accommodation and administration issues. Teacher exchange is a vital element when evaluating staff activity and academic achievements, hence, the school encourages to participate in visiting lectures and/or trainings. All these activities are recognised by school authorities and included to their academic achievements.

The program is addressed to students with academic achievements. The enrollment procedure includes verifying the students language competence and also guarantees a free language (English or German) course, which is to ameliorate specialist jargon from their field of studies. Erasmus students are not subject to tuition fees. Procedures are set, nonetheless, each case is treated individually – in case of program differences, if the student returns earlier or does not pass a class.

In order to facilitate crediting courses attended at foreign schools the College has introduced the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Detailed information about didactic programs, as well as related procedures are all available online. During the students stay at the partner university/institution the realised study program will be based upon the Agreement on school program/internships. The Wroclaw College of Humanities will fully recognise credits and points obtained by the student abroad–guaranteed by the Rector. Additionally, graduate students receive supplements in their mother tongue and English/German describing taken courses, classes and internships.

According to the policy exercised by our education institutions one of the most important and compulsory components of education are career training placements of our students in companies, and other similar organizations. At each department level there is an academic teacher who coordinates internships. These may be carried out individually or in groups. Regulations concerning apprenticeships are available for students online as well as at coordinators. Internships receive ECTS points and figure in the students diploma suplement. For example, for physiotherapy students obligatory internships include kinesitherapy – 125 hours, physical therapy – 125 hours and massage – 125 hours, all based on the didactic program. Additionally, beginning with the year 2008, our school will join ENPHE (European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education) which promotes and encourages among others interaction and exchange in the field of physiotherapy. Our College has signed agreements with institutions in Lower Silesia concerning student internships for the Geodesy and Cartography field, as well as hospitals and health care facilities in Lower Silesia for internships and clinical classes for our Physiotherapy students. The best may find employment in these institutions. The school monitors these practices and student achievements by means of a training log and supervisor evaluation. Additionally, we have contacted foreign institutions where our physiotherapy students will have internships, and hopefully, in the nearby future other fields will gain the same opportunity. In order to make our offer more attractive and to educate our students with the approach of openness to European co-operation, the school decided to participate in placement projects enabling our students to serve their apprenticeship abroad.