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Workshop Outcomes – Peace Education for Karazin University, and GRT inclusion in higher education.

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in Events, News.

On 30 June 2022, two workshops titled ‘Developing a Peace Education Programme for Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine’ and ‘Removing barriers to Higher Education for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers’, were organised and moderated by Dr Spyros Themelis (UEA) and Dr Selma Porobic (Palacky University Olomouc) at the University of East Anglia (UEA). The two workshops, implemented under the framework of the Culture: Identity and Diversity pilot domain were a great success and will produce concrete outcomes in the future.

‘Developing a Peace Education Programme for Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine’

One of the developing features of Aurora support to Karazin Kharkiv National University is peace education programme. Peace education is an emerging field focusing on peacebuilding efforts through education in situations of collective trauma such as war, mass displacement, and genocide. This pedagogy focuses on the creation of safe environments for teachers and students to foster dialogue and reflection by enabling sharing of their own traumatic (and often conflictual) narratives and supporting perspective-taking.

Under the guidance of Dr. Selma Porobić, this workshop brought together 14 experts from over 9 different institutions, and aimed to  explore a collaborative model focusing on the development of peace education programme for Karazin Kharkiv University. During the group discussion two set of questions were addressed. Group A focused on how to develop Peace education (PE) as integral part of general competences for academicians at Karazin, while Group B focused on researching PE in the ongoing war situation in the city of Kharkiv and in the Eastern Ukraine.

Among the most significant outcomes of this workshop, are the establishment of the International Expert team for peace education platform at Karazin University and initial planning of peace education programme including timeline for different components, research methods, staff training and COILs.

Thanks to the SPACE Network, represented in the workshop by Elke Kitzelmann (UIBK), an initial donation was made towards the realization of the Peace Education platform and further Aurora collaborations with Karazin University. In addition, collaborations with UIBK’s new MA Peace Studies program, under prof. Andreas Oberprantacher were initiated as well.  As part of International Summer School in Refugee Law and Rights, co-organized by Palacky University and Karazin University, on August 24th, students from UIBK’s Peace studies  program will engage with Karazin University’s MA students in the plenary session ‘ Prospects for Peace Building, Recovery & Reconstruction.’

We look forward to engagement from more Aurora universities. Enquiries about the PE program at Karazin University can be sent to Dr. Selma Porobić, coordinator for Aurora support to Karazin University.

‘Removing barriers to Higher Education for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers’

Gypsy, Roma and Travellers (GRT) are the largest ethnic minority and at the same time the most marginalised in Europe. It is little surprise, therefore, that they are also one of the most, if not the most, underrepresented group in higher education.

This workshop explored the types of barriers facing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students in accessing Higher Education and experiences of inclusion and exclulsion. In total 15 participants attended the event, including academics, practitioners, reseach students, as well as inclusion leaders in schools and local councils. Participants were of Roma and non-Roma origin and they shared perspectives from a variety of European countries (including Germany, Greece, Iceland,  Sweeden, the Czech Republic, Romania and the UK) and institutional contexts, including, schools, universisties, musuems and local couincils.

One of the outcomes of this workshop, was the decision to create a network of Roma inclusion research in higher education. It was also agreed that this network will aim to map national and international policies of inclusion and examine national and international reports relevant to the topic. Finally, it was agreed that the network will explore the possiblity of setting up courses on Roma education across the Aurora network and more broadly, and work with outreach officers to explore innovative practices on access.

Dr. Spyros Themelis, who led the workshop, will explore options for hosting a face-to-face meeting at the start of the new academic year. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved, please email Spyros at: s.themelis@uea.ac.uk.

We welcome contributions from across all Aurora universities.

Co-creation training workshop

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events, News.

Join us at the international co-creation event from February 3rd to 5th.

During this event, you will learn from co-creation experts from AURORA universities and beyond, and also join theoretical discussions and share experiences, practices and knowledge. The training will include interactive co-creation activities and sessions that will provide a first-hand experience of the practice of co-creation. Together we connect and build synergies. This event is open for interested educators/teachers, researchers, co-creation practitioners and experts, students, and community partners. PhD’s students who join this training can obtain 3 ECTS.

Interested? Please register here and/or contact Evert van Grol.

Open Educational

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

Aurora partners are invited to the webinar series on Open Educational Resources starting December 14th. The series are meant to illustrate a strategic part of universities’ improvement in the sector of Open Education. The OER group wants to sensibilize teaching staff and students for Open Educational Resources. It aims to raise awareness within Aurora universities of the many possibilities that Open Educational Resources offer. OER stimulates collaboration between teachers by reusing and remixing open materials. Students can participate in developing new and open educational resources.

In the webinars, the motto “content is king” will be used to emphasize the importance of free access to content, benefits, conditions of the creation and provision of learning materials. Grab this opportunity to learn more about Open Educational Resources. These webinars will be organized in December, January, February, and March. Check out the program for more information.

Webinar series programme

To follow a webinar, click on the button below

Join webinar

Meeting-ID: 632 7666 4698

Password: 170896

Webinar Series in November

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events, News.

We may not have had the opportunity to visit all ten of the other universities, nor indeed those countries, but in the five years since Aurora began, how well do we really know our Aurora partners?

We’re all research-intensive with an international outlook, collectively supporting our students to become global entrepreneurs. But could you list the home country of each partner? Its academic strengths? Its research collaborations?

The Borderless Learning: Recognition and Mobility Group has hosted a week-long series of webinars from November 2nd to 5th, aiming to answer questions from the very basic level – why would a student choose to study there – from its campus and location to its courses, to its inclusive community. Each Aurora university will take just 60 minutes, all following a similar structure and format, to showcase itself to other Aurora universities.

Whether you’re a student, an administrative adviser or coordinator of placements, or an academic looking to strengthen your European partnerships; watch the recordings to find out more. You could just turn out to be learning about your next destination.

Get To Know Your Aurora University Study Abroad Partner Destinations – A Webinar Series for students and staff

Are you on a study abroad pathway? Interested in studying a short course abroad? Keen to experience living and learning in another part of Europe? Or helping to advise those that are? Watch as many of these eleven webinars as you like! All have been recorded. Please take a look at all the videos below and find the university of your interest.

 

Presentation Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

 

Presentation Universitat Rovira i Virgili

 

Presentation University of Aberdeen

 

Presentation Università di Napoli Federico II

 

Presentation University of Iceland

 

Presentation Universität Innsbruck

 

Presentation University of East Anglia

 

Presentation Universität Duisburg-Essen

 

Presentation Copenhagen Business School

 

Presentation Université Grenoble Alpes

 

Presentation Palacký University Olomouc

Being awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship in the Aurora Network

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

On Monday 28th of June 2021 at 14:00-16:00 CET, the webinar “Being awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship in the Aurora Network” will be hosted. This webinar is a great opportunity for the exchange of young talented scientists across the Aurora network. We will discuss how to apply for an MSCA fellowship and will report the experience of a current fellow, supervisor and evaluator.

The objective of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (PFs) is to support researchers’ careers and foster excellence in research. The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who wish to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. PFs help researchers gain experience in other countries, disciplines and non-academic sectors.

SPEAKERS

Angela Zampella, Leader of the Health and Wellbeing Domain of the AURORA Alliance Angelo D’Agostino, Italian National Contact Point APRE Maria Romano, MSCA Fellow Alfonso De Simone, MSCA Supervisor Pasquale Maffia, MSCA Evaluator

Event details

The open event will take place on Zoom

ZOOM LINK – Meeting ID: 948 3501 9172 – Passcode: 479910

Aurora Celebrates Languages

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

On September 27th, Aurora celebrates languages to raise awareness about cultural and language diversity. Also, the event aims to gather and discuss ideas, thoughts and experiences about implementing plurilingualism in teaching and learning activities. The round table event starts from 4 pm to 6 pm, and will be structured in two parts:

The first part starts with three interventions: A) Giancarmine Bongo will present the theme of multilingualism in Aurora and the main activities that the universities of Aurora have in the field. B) Alma Ágústsdóttir, Aurora Student President, will speak to present the views of students in Aurora on language teaching and learning and multilingualism. C) Sophie Belanger (Unite! Alliance) will present the choices, perspectives and difficulties of the Unite!

In the second part, small groups will discuss the themes presented in breakout rooms.

Access the flyer here

Open International Webinar Artificial Intelligence in & for the Global South

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

From June 2nd to June 4th, the master-level “ICT4D in the Field” course kicks off with an Open International Webinar Artificial Intelligence in & for the Global South. The webinar is opened by Prof. Dr Gabriel Ayum Teye, Vice-Chancellor University for Development Studies UDS, Ghana; Prof. Dr Mirjam van Praag, President Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands & Chair Aurora European University Alliance, and Prof. Datuk Dr Mohammad Kadim bin Suaidi, Vice-Chancellor Universiti Malaysia Sarawak UNIMAS, Malaysia.

Many speakers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, UDS Ghana and Unimas Malaysia will host webinars on topics like Knowledge engineering & management: dealing with specialist knowledge, Data analytics for patient health monitoring, Digital socio-technical innovation and indigenous knowledge in South-East Asia, and many more.

Access the Webinar zoom ID and password by clicking the button below:

Webinar program

The master course ICT4D in the Field is the first course in the Aurora pilot “Digital Society and Global Citizenship”. The course’s central theme will be: “Artificial Intelligence in and for the Global South”. Previously, this course has been carried out in a real-world environment. Students were exposed to complex contexts and real-world challenges. They design and implement practical, user-centred and sustainable socio-technological solutions for disadvantaged communities according to a Community Service Learning (CSL) approach. This year the course has been “Aurorized”, i.e. redesigned as part of the Aurora Alliance educational pilot, into “collaborative online international learning” while maintaining its global and Community Service flavour. A visual preview of the course:

AI and Ethics: Structural, Local, and Global Issues

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

On June 18th 2021, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethics talk will be given by Prof. Dr Guglielmo Tamburrini (U Napoli Federico II, Italy) and is part of the global course ICT4D in the field. The talk is organized into three parts.

The first part reviews distinctive and ethically sensitive traits of contemporary AI technologies: widespread semantic opaqueness of information processing, bias duplication and amplification, infrequent but surprising errors.

In the second part, a variety of local applications for AI technologies are examined where these traits raise substantive ethical concerns. These notably include autonomous weapons systems, autonomous vehicles and other real-time systems which must respect hard temporal deadlines in their perception-decision-action cycles.

Finally, in the third part, it is shown that Artificial Intelligence has increasing – and double-edged – roles to play in connection with ethical issues having a genuinely global dimension: the climate crisis, the preservation of international peace and stability, the protection of democratic participation in political decision-making.

About Prof. Dr. Guglielmo Tamburrini:

Guglielmo Tamburrini is a Philosophy of Science and Technology Professor at Università di Napoli Federico II in Italy (Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology). His main research interests include the ethics of human interactions with robotic and AI systems. He was the coordinator of the first European project on the ethics of robotics (CA ETHICBOTS, 2005-2008, VI FP). In 2014 he was awarded the Giulio Preti International Prize by the Regional Parliament of Tuscany for his research and teaching on ethical implications of ICT and robotic technologies. He is a member of ICRAC (International Committee for Robot Arms Control).

Event link Passcode: ICT4DitF

Health and Wellbeing Summer Meeting

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Events.

On the 28th of June, the Health and Wellbeing Pilot Domain is organizing a summer meeting with a duo purpose to show education and research activities in the Health and Wellbeing pilot domain. The aim is to pave the way for the birth of a Health and wellbeing community within Aurora, with collaborations among the AURORA partners in the field of Education and Research. Therefore, the focus of the meeting is to present the activities in the field of Health and Wellbeing and to exchange ideas on current and future activities.

Programme

10.00 – 10.05 am Welcome and Introduction

10.05-10.20 am Presentation of a map of the Health and Wellbeing education within the Aurora universities

10.20 -11.00 am Education Session

Participants (one or two for each university) presents the teaching activities within the Health and wellbeing domain. Each presenter should provide information on:

  • Initiatives opened or to be opened to all aurora students
  • Existing, planned or even ideas for new activities in collaboration with other Aurora partners

11.00-11.15 Discussion

11.15-12.00 am Research Session

Each university presents their research interests by answering the following questions

  • what are the main areas of research of my University
  • Research infrastructures that could be shared among Aurora Universities (WP 4.2)
  • How being part of the Aurora Network could bring benefits to your research activities

Participants can register at the following link

Join a short course in Europe this summer

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in Calls, Events.

Ready to make the most of your summer? Want to study in another part of Europe?

Learn a new skill, develop new knowledge to enhance your degree studies and graduate prospects?

All Aurora university students have the benefit of learning what’s on offer this summer at other Aurora universities, through this one-stop-shop of your Aurora options this summer*. From Global Health to International Criminal Justice and from Central Europe and European Integration to Global Transitional Sociology, there’s a range of subjects to suit everyone, and in many cases, special discounts are provided for students from other Aurora universities.

So what are you waiting for?

Click the button below to access the summer school courses, find out more, check dates and deadlines, and find out how to apply.

Summer schools

Each Aurora Alliance university has an allocation of Aurora Alliance funding to support outward mobility and this may be available for short courses in Europe this summer. Please check with your home university’s study abroad office for details on how to access relevant funding.

Would you like to be kept updated with Aurora university short courses and summer schools and associated funding opportunities? Please register your interest by completing this short form. You can also use the form to ask questions that we can direct to the appropriate Aurora university.

We hope you will be able to take the opportunity to study abroad at another Aurora university during your degree!

*Please note that some dates are to be confirmed and delivery modes may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please get in touch directly with the hosting university for final details.