Helping to ensure sustainability of outputs in Tempus Projects Dr Carol Marrow Emeritus Reader: University of Cumbria Associate Professor: RKC, Zurich,

FINAL CONFERENCE: TEMPUS PROJECT MPHHS 511303

Helping to ensure sustainability of outputs in Tempus Projects

Dr Carol MarrowEmeritus Reader: University of CumbriaAssociate Professor: RKC, Zurich, SwitzerlandExternal Expert: European CommissionAcademic Consultant: Health, Education and Leadership



Within the context of the Tempus projects sustainability it is about maintaining, supporting and the continuation of the programmes of study and other academic and professional achievements.

The main aim of this paper is to discuss the European Commission’s (EC) position on sustainability, in particular Tempus projects and outline the ways in which Tempus projects and indeed this project can sustain their relevant outputs.



“A project is sustainable when it continues to deliver benefits to the project beneficiaries and/or other constituencies for an extended period after the Commission’s financial assistance has been terminated” (European Commission Handbook, 2006).



The EC specify two criteria to help focus and maintain sustainability and these will be discussed in some detail with practical examples wherever possible:

Diversity and intensity of activities/outputs maintained or developed after the end of the funding

Intensity and enlargement of the cooperation



Maintenance of outputs and activities

Activities/outputs are maintained, i.e. in the case of this project the developed curriculum is still used and supported (outputs) at the end of the project. The student numbers have increased.

The quality of the programme continues with research findings to support the continual development of teaching, learning and assessment methods that are cognisant with the changing academic and practice content of the programme.



The staff involved continue to have support and education to enable the changing process of the programme. Once validated a programme of study does not stand still it has to be abreast of the wider changes incorporating changes in social and health circumstance and current policy initiative within a certain culture.



The Website

The Website will continue to be supported and funded (Lobbying the more senior members of the Universities to support the Website financially or obtaining subscriptions from members). Maybe offer that it could be used for other initiatives etc.



Development of the outputs and activitiesActivities and outputs are developed. For example further courses. There could be plans in situ to develop the programmes with a more specific focus or at a higher level. For example Doctoral. Examples from Erasmus projects: TENN EUROPEAN MASTERS



Web E-Learning and sharing Activities/outputs can be disseminated, i.e. creation of a web site or an addition to the existing one presenting e-learning sessions (activities) so that the curriculum developed can be shared through collaboration with other universities not included in the current project. Moreover, students residing in other countries can access the programmes.



Publications Collaborative publications on the work achieved is very important for bringing academic and practitioners together and helps to disseminate good practice.

International collaborative research is an indicator of quality research and helps to raise the status of universities, encourage other funding for projects and research studies.



Some example of publications:

the importance of developing teaching and learning strategies for E-Learning.

Outlining the development of the new Masters and the process undertaken

Discussing new initiatives within the development

Student’s perspectives and experiences throughout the programme



Research PolicyThe development and or enhancement of a strong Research Policy where evidence is obtained to assure the quality of the teaching and the programme content.

Development and or enhancement of learning cultures Learning environments are crucial in helping to advance practice. The staff are important and should be supported and motivated. This includes both teachers and support staff. This support and motivation can be in the form of:



Study and research time Attendance at conferences, seminars etc Changing values and introducing change within a culture such as Higher Education are difficult tasks which require effective leadership.



Leadership, management and supervision Leading developments in Higher Education

Robbins & Judge (2009) define leadership as “the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of a vision or set of goals”.

Leaders align people by communicating this vision and inspiring them to overcome hurdles.


Marrow (2010)


Scanning+

Vision/goalsGoals

+Development

Goals

Communicating

Vision/goals

+Coordinating

Education and resources

Collaborating+

Inspiring+

Supporting

MonitoringEvaluating +Revising



Quality Assurance (QA)Important to ensure the sustained quality and performance of Higher Education (HE) institutions. To also continually develop and modernise.

QAA – UK



Intensity and enlargement of the cooperation:

Sustaining and Developing a Public Health and Social Services Network

A Network that includes the current project members, other staff and professionals and students who have been involved in the Project development. The Network will focus on the development of Public Health and Social Services programmes and initiatives.



The Project Website can continue as a form of communication, support and educational activities. This can be funded by annual subscriptions at an individual or group or university level or from seminars and conferences.

The Network can be enlarged and may also diversify into other related activities that will be advantageous to the University as a whole.



There are many continuing organisations/networks that were originally funded by the European Commission.



Research Teams Included in this enlarged network may be the development of research teams. These members of the teams can collaborate on joint publications, invitations to conferences, the planning, designing and implementation of research studies that are related to the project content or have arisen from ideas within the consortium.



Teacher/student exchange and sharing of practice

Moreover, the sharing of practice and exchanging of teachers and students will be useful in enhancing the sustainability of academic education.



References:European Commission (2006) Sustainability of international cooperation projects in the field of higher education and vocational training. Handbook on Sustainability. Luxemburg Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

Marrow, C.E (2010) Leaders of Learning Competencies: A review of the literature. Report Commissioned by the NHS North West

Robbins S and Judge T, (2011) Organizational Behavior, 14th Ed., 2009. London. Pearson.

Documents

Helping to ensure sustainability of outputs in Tempus Projects Dr Carol Marrow Emeritus Reader: University of Cumbria Associate Professor: RKC, Zurich,