Manisa Celal Bayar University has been awarded the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education for the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027. The Erasmus Policy Statement (below) sets out its institutional strategy in relation to the Charter.
Manisa Celal Bayar University (MCBU) supports the EU Modernisation and Internationalisation Agenda for Higher Education, and the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is integral to the realisation of its institutional plans, strategies and aspirations.
MCBU believes that higher education is a power for good and makes a significant economic, intellectual and cultural contribution to the world. MCBU is committed to international excellence through the creation of world-changing research and high quality, inspirational teaching within an inclusive academic culture. These core values expressed in institutional strategy of MCBU’s permeate approach to international engagement. Central to the achievement of vision of an international university are the benefits derived from working collaboratively. The international partnerships in both participating and non-participating countries facilitate and support staff and student mobility, student recruitment, developments in teaching and learning, collaborative research and capacity-building.
Erasmus+ programme provides ample opportunities for improving all aspects of international cooperation at the MCBU. Fully aware that the quality of academic programmes and student satisfaction correlate with personal mobility experience and participation in projects, the university management actively supports all initiatives coming from individual members of academic/administrative staff or from research teams or from student organisations. Participating in Erasmus+ Programme has been an integral part of MCBU strategy of internationalization which encourages student and staff mobility, promotes transnational teaching activities, recognizes the significance of visibility of the results of these activities, and above all provides for non-discrimination practice by ensuring that all participants be treated equally in a fair, transparent, coherent and documented way. Non-discrimination policies will be further developed through blended mobility and different kinds of supplementary support to both inbound and outbound students and staff afflicted by disabilities, part-time jobs, family responsibilities or lower socio-economic status. It proves that Erasmus+ has really helped to enhance the mobility of staff and students at MCBU, as well as the participation in European and international cooperation projects, with excellent results.
All successful partnerships are the result of shared commitment to, and mutual benefit from, the relationship. MCBU’s many of partnerships result from individual links between academic staff. Others have been introduced through existing partners or other networks. The international partner institutions are diverse, reflecting the different needs and priorities of its partners’ and students and staff of MCBU. As well as developing partnerships which are multi-dimensional and strategic, MCBU also recognises the place of specialist, focussed partnerships for specific purposes.
While maintaining its existing geographical priorities (in Europe, East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Latin America), MCBU remains open to new and unexpected opportunities. Through the interaction of university-based International Strategy Groups, University-wide International Advisory Committe and the International Office, MCBU encourages the development of academic-led initiatives and projects, disseminating information about new opportunities and promoting good practice in all aspects of its international operations and strategy. MCBU actively disseminates across the institution and to its local community and beyond, as appropriate, examples of the outcomes and benefits of international partnership activity.
MCBU shapes its future alongside other educational and scientific institutions belonging to the European Higher Education Area and European Research Area, but is equally open towards collaboration with institutions situated in other parts of the world. In line with its Strategy of Internationalisation, MCBU chooses its partners with regards to the following priorities:
The geographical areas, both within and beyond the EU, where the partner institutions are situated, are therefore closely linked with, and guided by, the above-mentioned priorities. MCBU has a strategic interest to cooperate with individual scientific and educational institutions, as well as international organisations and associations, in Europe, but also with those whose seat is outside Europe. Through European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), of the the EU with its Southern and Eastern Neighbours, MCBU wish to build common interests with partner countries of the East and South in line with the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy which is a part of our institutional internalization strategy. In order to ensure this MCBU developed academic and mobility collaboration in Southern and Mediterranean Countries and became a member of Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), an association of Universities from the countries of the Mediterranean basin.
MCBU has been active in participating some networks' activities and organizations such as The European University Association (EUA), European Association of Erasmus Coordinators (EAEC), Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED). MCBU has also been accredited to European Voluntary Service (EVS). EVS is an international volunteer programme funded by the European Commission. MCBU has its place as sending and coordinating institution among accredited institutions within EVS.
One of the key aspects of international cooperation supported by MCBU is the extensive exchange of students, professors, assistants, researchers and administrative staff within the Erasmus+ Programme, as well as all other mobility schemes funded by the European Union. Academic mobility is, and has been, one of the strategic priorities of the MCBU. An important objective of the MCBU is to achieve the appropriate balance between incoming and outgoing mobility, to encourage student mobility at all three cycles of study, and to make sure that extensive mobility of academic and administrative staff has a sustainable impact on the process of internationalisation at the institution as a whole. International credit mobility, apart from bringing great benefit to individual students and staff is seen by the MCBU as an exceptional capacity building and quality raising mechanism for university and faculty services in implementing the priorities set out the institutional Strategy of Internationalisation.
In regard to mobility, MCBU is committed to extend the range and nature of the opportunities and can offer to its students, as integral or optional credit mobility components of an ever-increasing range of degree programmes, principally, but not exclusively, at Bachelor level. This will include both study and work placements in participating and non-participating countries. MCBU will continue to explore short-term mobility in order to encourage participation by a more diverse student body and to introduce new and less familiar study destinations in non-participating countries.
MCBU will actively promote international mobility when recruiting new students such as International Staff Week, Career Days for International Industry Companies, On-site visit mobilities to the students with department coordinators, at University Open Days and to current students through its network of departmental co-ordinators, a programme of departmental presentations. At the same time MCBU will demonstrate its strong institutional commitment to equality of opportunity, offering additional financial assistance to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. MCBU will build on its experience to enhance and develop inclusive polices and practice in regard to all aspects of mobility.
Mobility of academic and administrative staff is a priority for effective partnership relationship management, support of co-operation projects, professional training, teaching delivery and programme development. In this context MCBU will explore opportunities for joint delivery of Master’s programmes with partners from both programme and partner countries. In all the international activities MCBU recognises the importance of regular monitoring and evaluation, as well as benchmarking with peers, in order to inform and influence its future practice, policy and strategy.
MCBU focuses primarily on the development of selected existing partnerships and to extend their scope so that they contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Modernisation Agenda for Higher Education, for example, by developing relationships with other key stakeholders and/or cross-sector co-operation. In order to realise these objectives MCBU engages in more strategic and sustainable relationships based on deeper mutual understanding of its capabilities, capacity and priorities. MCBU seeks to develop further, in co-operation with HEIs in participating countries, the contribution to capacity-building for higher education in post-conflict Partner countries.
MCBU envisages that the impact of the European Union’s Modernisation and Internationalisation Agenda in Higher Education will be seen at Manisa Celal Bayar University in each of the five priority areas:
1. Increasing attainment levels to provide the graduates and researchers Europe needs
MCBU believes that universities are not just the privilege of elites, and that a diverse student and staff body makes the University stronger.
MCBU develops the commitment to widening participation and inclusivity, through outreach programmes and projects, admissions policies and practice, and in the policy to provide targeted financial assistance to minimise barriers to entry, progression and mobility.
2. Improving the quality and relevance of higher education
MCBU has high aspirations for the graduates, and proactively deliver employment-related skills that will enable the graduates to meet these aspirations. As providers of a broad-based portfolio of distance learning programmes, MCBU will continue to develop and diversify transnational education provision at all three cycles and short cycle. Across all the degree programmes, both distance learning and campus-based, MCBU will make innovative use of new information and communications technologies to enrich teaching and enhance the student experience.
MCBU will actively promote to students and staff the personal and professional development benefits of international mobility and highlight to prospective employers the transferable skills and competences typically associated with this experience, such as cross-cultural communication and language skills.
3. Strengthening quality through mobility and cross-border collaboration
One of the priorities of International Office of MCBU is to increase the number of mobilities not only outgoing but also the incoming ones. While doing this, University gives importance to the quality of mobilities and to which degree the mobility will contribute sending and receiving institution. To increase awareness among the staff and students about the importance of international exchange programs which is also one of the crucial aims of International Office, organizes conferences and international promotional activities to encourage staff and students to take advantage of these programs. To increase the mobility numbers, MCBU has also aimed to get full accreditation in international background by international accrediting bodies. To get full accreditation, the curriculum of lectures given has been reorganized for the integration of courses given in European level.
4. Making the knowledge triangle work
MCBU works in partnership with business and industry, including regional associations, to exploit its intellectual capital and create a highly-skilled workforce. MCBU collaborates with Manisa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manisa Organized Industrial Zone, İzmir Chamber of Commerce, MCBU Teknocity and other local and regional enterprises on curriculum development, internships and work placements and redesign its programmes according to the needs and qualifications requested by the employeers from its graduates. MCBU continues to develop the research collaboration with industry and the public sector, and will seek to increase opportunities for integration of industrial experience into degree programmes.
5. Improving governance and funding
As MCBU continues to diversify on funding sources across the range of its activities, its priority will be re-investment in the academic mission and strategic vision of Manisa Celal Bayar University.