The wider objective of the research project is to promote the reformation and modernisation of the higher education institutes (HEI) in the Russian federation. The specific objectives are to assess the cooperation between HEIs and working life, to implement action plans to enhance working life relevance and cooperation and to increase the know-how of HEI staff in working life cooperation methods and ways of integrating them into curricula.
The overall aim of the project is to improve the cooperation of HEIs and working life to benefit both sides. The project evaluates the present situation of HEIs’ cooperation and partnerships with regional working life partners. Based on the present situation, development and action plans are written to each Russian partner HEI to improve the cooperation and partnerships. European partner HEIs will organize benchmarking visits and mentoring for Russian partner HEIs to develop and implement their action plans.
In the first phase teachers implement the individual Action Plans by piloting new forms of cooperation, find new partners, make strategic plans for cooperation combining curriculums and companies’ needs. The effects this pilot study will be measures. In the second phase, the cooperation strategies and roadmaps are implemented and the improved cooperation methods will be adapted to curriculas. The results and experiences are collected to produce a handbook with concrete, applicable best practices, guidelines and recommendations.
Project results are disseminated through a practical handbook, a monograph with more scientific approach, project website, news feeds, newsletters, reports, articles, project poster, final seminar and presentations at HEIs and conferences. Awareness campaign is organized to give presentations at RU HEIs that are linked to consortium members through various networks. The exploitation of results is ensured by securing the institutional and financial continuation of development and implementation of the action plans.