Visoka šola za tehnologijo polimerov - VŠTP (Polymer technology college) is a newly established higher education institution founded in November 2006, with a practically oriented first cycle degree program Polymer technology. Although our young institution doesn't have a history of international cooperation and mobility activities, our teaching staff has very good international connections with higher education institutions across Europe, especially in Austria and Germany.
One of our priorities at VŠTP is to establish international cooperation as a measure to build and assure high quality of teaching and research that will become recognized not only nationally, but also internationally. VSTP wants to create a learning environment where students, teaching staff, researchers and non-academic personal could develop international competencies. We also want to help students to prepare professionally and socially for a global society. Mobility and other internationalization activities contribute to the realization of these values and goals. Therefore we strongly support initiatives of development cooperation, professionalism and lifelong learning and greatly encourage the mobility of students, teaching staff, researchers and non-academic personnel. With these activities we will be able to offer quality teaching, training and research and raise the reputation of our young institution.
Furthermore our goal is to develop international cooperation (multilateral projects) with colleges and universities around Europe that have developed and implemented innovative teaching and management practices, as well as innovative practices and strategies concerning cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises. We already have connections with a polytechnic in Finland that has developed and implemented new teaching practices and strategies for the education and training of engineers. We are also planning to develop innovative ICT-based content and would like to cooperate with other higher education institutions in this regard (e-content sharing, virtual campuses…).
On the basis of these priorities, we have set the following aims for international cooperation and mobility until the year 2013:
- to establish an International office, which will develop, promote and facilitate all international activities at VŠTP,
- to sign bilateral agreements with at least 10 higher education institutions in Europe until the year 2013 (Currently we are in contact with colleges and universities from Austria, Finland, UK and Germany),
- to ensure all necessary activities to encourage, facilitate and assure quality of mobility activities of students and staff (coordination, information packages, brochures, presentations, counseling, accommodation facilities, evaluation…),
- to develop and implement (as coordinator or partner) three multilateral projects in the areas of innovative teaching practices, innovative strategies for cooperation with enterprises, ICT-based content, curriculum development…,
- to find extra financial support for international cooperation,
- to develop English modules, intensive programs and joint-modules for incoming students.
We also understand the importance of giving publicity and visibility of mobility programs, thus the Erasmus program will be extensively promoted through annual promotion presentations, brochures and posters and our web page www.vstp.si, where we will have a special homepage for mobility and international cooperation. The homepage will include the Erasmus Policy Statement, application information, information on partners and study abroad experiences, accommodation facilities...
At VSTP we assess our students solely on their academic accomplishments and condemn discrimination of any kind (gender, social, religious, political beliefs, disability…). Our Committee for Quality Assurance works to prevent discrimination of any kind from happening.
Quality of academic mobility activities
VŠTP has fully implemented the Bologna degree structure and the ECTS system. We will set up an International office that will be responsible for all international cooperation and activities, including mobility activities. All courses taken at the partner institution will be recognized as part of the student’s degree.
The International office at VŠTP will prepare mobility information brochures, which will be updated annually and published on the website. The information packages for outgoing students will contain information on our international partner institutions, including information on courses and programs, student reports, the application process and other practical information. We will also prepare presentations of the Erasmus program and mobility opportunities for all students and staff. The International office will also provide quality counseling for both outgoing and incoming students.
The courses at VŠTP are currently only in Slovene language, but our goal is to develop English modules for incoming students in the next years. For our incoming students and academic staff, we will also prepare introductory courses in Slovene language and culture, information meetings, intercultural workshops and various social events. We will also provide them with suitable accommodation facilities and full time personalized assistance from staff members of the International office including a designated tutor.
Incoming and outgoing academic and administrative staff will also receive a thorough travel plan and agenda for their stay, including their workload. For incoming academic staff, the International office will also organize integration meetings with staff and students, as well as meetings with regional/ town authorities and enterprises. The mobility activities will be evaluated annually by the Committee for Quality assurance. Their findings will be used to improve the activities.