Assistance and Agreements for International Mobility
The service intends to deal with the definition of agreements with universities in other countries for the international mobility of students, in particular for periods of training abroad, but also, for example, for the awarding of joint degrees or double degrees, appropriate for the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, as well as the organisation and management of the international mobility of outgoing students and the reception of incoming students from other countries.
In recent years the University of Parma has undertaken important work aimed at increasing the number of courses with double or joint degrees, with a view to increasing and promoting international mobility. In this sense, the development policies of the course catalogue have taken into specific consideration the relationship between the international development of the course catalogue itself, its sustainability and adequacy, and the territorial dimension and relations with other universities. It is precisely the international dimension of the course catalogue that is aimed not only at increasing the number of deserving international students, by diversifying their geographical origin, but also at increasing the number of graduates who have had training experience abroad, thus strengthening the international dimension of the training contexts, also through the teaching of foreign experts and the development of the students' language skills.
The University of Parma is part of an exchange network of professors/instructors and students that, through numerous agreements at EU and non-EU level, allows for study periods abroad and/or internship activities, enabling students to undertake training experiences abroad, both didactic and work-related, as part of mobility programmes, thus creating opportunities for international careers for its students and favourable environments for the development of research activities, through the funding of projects by local researchers and the attraction of scholars from all over the world.
Over the years, the numerous academic contacts that have developed have allowed for the creation of a network of international collaborations that today sees the presence of partnerships with Universities and Research Organisations from all over the world, resulting in the recognition of the University of Parma on the international academic scene.
The intense activity aimed at improving internationalisation has resulted in an increase in language training opportunities, the consolidation of exchange activities within the Erasmus+ Programme, the expansion of exchange opportunities within the OVERWORLD University Programme, in the implementation of double-degree programmes with structured mobility, in the TeachinParma project co-financed by the CariParma Foundation for the support of Visiting Professors working within the Doctoral Schools, in the recruitment of Visiting Professors for teaching activities in first- and second-level degree courses.
In order to coordinate central and departmental activities, International Mobility Committees were set up in each department in 2017. Internationalisation initiatives can be accessed via the 'INTERNATIONAL' menu item on the University homepage https://www.unipr.it/internazionale.
In order to foster the growth and scientific and didactic updating of the teaching staff, the university encourages participation in international mobility programmes, both under the Erasmus+ Programme and the OverWorld Programme, in order to carry out a period of teaching and/or training abroad; it promotes initiatives useful for acquiring specific knowledge and know-how from good practices (creation of academic networks, research collaborations, participation in competitive calls for projects) and for developing language skills relevant to professional development.
The realisation and implementation of internationalisation processes, on the basis of the directives issued by the University governance, is carried out by the Internationalisation Division (Research, Internationalisation and Third Stream Management Area).
Those enrolled on the Physiotherapy degree course may apply for study periods abroad under the ERASMUS PLUS programme, subject to verification of the following eligibility requirements: a- Passing of the "block" examinations; b- Certified knowledge of the language of the host country; c- Average marks for examinations passed of more than 24/thirty.
Established contacts are established with the following European locations: Spain: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Universidad Camilo Jose Cela, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, Universidad de Valencia, Universidad Europea Valencia; Romania: Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie 'Grigore T. Popa' din Iasi.
A delegate responsible for the ERASMUS PLUS programme is appointed as a guide and coordinator for students involved in training exchanges.
On 24 February 2016, the Board of Directors approved the second edition of the University Programme OVERWORLD, the initiative to support the mobility of students from the University of Parma to all non-EU universities with which the University of Parma has a collaboration agreement for teaching and research activities