EPS 2014-2020

Erasmus Policy Statement 2014-2020 (EPS)   

Podhalańska Państowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa  (The Podhale State Higher Vocational School) in Nowy Targ is a young College established in 2001, which aims at being a truly European institution based on European standards by joining the Lifelong Learning Programme.

The main mission of PPWSZ is to transfer values, knowledge, and skills that students need for long-term success in a globalized business world undergoing constant technological and market transformations.

As a current holder of the Extended Erasmus University Charter with a network of university European partners, we aim to advance our internationalisation strategy through student and staff mobility, research collaboration and co-operation in organisational management and development.

The most important objectives and target groups for PPWSZ’s mobility activities are:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degree  students:

PPWSZ’s internationalization strategy defines that at least 5 % of all students study abroad for one semester till academic year 2014/2020. Additionally, students are encouraged and supported to do internships abroad.

• Staff and lecturer mobility:

In regards to staff and lecturer mobility, the internationalization strategy defines an annual target of offering  up to 5 % of the administrative staff and 8 % of the lecturers the opportunity to be mobile.

• Intensive programmes and Double Degree Programme:

PPWSZ also has the strategic target to develop Intensive Programmes as well as Double Degree Programme with partner institutions.

• Establishing and maintaining bilateral contacts and signing contracts with universities of similar profile in all participating countries. The cooperation will include: student exchange, teaching and administrative staff exchange, participation in conferences, common projects and seminars, joined scientific research, publication exchange.
• Participation in education projects and research conducted in international teams financed by EU funds and other sources.
• Participation in the European Higher Education Area in the frames of Bologna process and Lisbon Convention.

To fulfil the strategy PPWSZ will be oblige to:

1. Maintain contact with institutions and partners, and seek new ones selected by matching teaching profile rather than geographical criterion.
2. Establish transparent and demanding selection procedures based on language and records criteria
3. Prepare learning programmes in order to collaborate with other universities.
4. Implement learning paths in English, improve teaching methods and curricula in view of the European dimension.
5. Expand foreign language teaching and making possible for students to obtain certificates recognised world-wide.
6. Promote school internationalisation activities among students, teaching and administrative staff.
7. Develop double/multiple/joint degree with our partners from Slovakia.
8. Develop an intensive programme with our Partners form Germany, Cyprus, Italy and Slovakia.

We intend to investigate ways of developing dual degrees and recognise EU multilateral initiatives as tools to further these plans. Teaching mobility continues to be a priority: it is recognised that it forms a key part of staff development and widens international contacts. It provides an EU dimension for non-mobile students through visiting and returning lecturers and forges and consolidates links with partner institutions.

PPWSZ's internationalization strategy focuses on a limited number of  targets and  international partnerships. The  targets mainly focus on mobility activities for students, staff and lecturers.

In regards to cooperation with partner universities in teaching and training, the internationalization strategy defines different levels of cooperation. Whereas mobility activities are realized with the majority of partners, it is the aim of PPWSZ to establish strategic cooperation with a limited number of partners.

Concerning international projects in teaching and research, PPWSZ is interested in developing one or two selected networks together with universities, companies, and organizations depending on the options the new generation of EU programmes will offer.

Our institution implemented national qualifications framework for higher education. Approved learning outcomes are described in terms of knowledge, skills, and social competence. Students gain qualifications at three levels and two profiles (general academic profile and practical profile). The above is intended to help to improve the quality and relevance of teaching and training, that equip graduates with the knowledge and transferable core competences they need to succeed in high-skill occupations.

Our strategy is to encourage the mobility of students and professors. We signed more than 20 agreements and doubled the mobility in past three academic years of our participation in the Erasmus progamme.

In order to provide equal opportunities to study in any European country included in the program, we aim to sign at least one agreement of cooperation with the leaders of all these countries. PPWSZ wants to provide more opportunities for students to gain additional skills through research and training abroad, and to encourage cross-border cooperation in order to increase the efficiency of higher education and prepares to cooperate in intensive programs in the field of architecture and urban planning, tourism and recreation, and physiotherapy. PPWSZ also is going to take part in the Leonardo da Vinci program in next two years. For several years PPWSZ has been involved in the implementation of micro-projects of the Tatra Euroregion, which are related to improving the quality of education.

In order to strengthen the "knowledge triangle", linking education, research, and business, PPWSZ concentrates on:

• Teaching with the use of real-life cases
• Research agenda developed in tandem with end-users
• Technological innovation (as our newest chemical laboratory)
• Knowledge exchange rather than knowledge transfer
• Teaching programmes  are strongly connected with labour-market/region needs.

Internationalization is an important part of PPWSZ´s general strategy. The Erasmus Intuitional Coordinator is in charge of applying effective governance and funding mechanisms for all activities.