ERASMUS+

KMU Ongoing ERASMUS+ Projects: RE-DIRECTION

CBHE Strand 2: 2023 – 2026

Nrº: 101128509

Total grant: 719.984 €

RE-DIRECTION is a Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) project which is co-funded by the European Union with a total grant of 719.984 € (represents 90% of the total project costs) and is part of the Erasmus+ Programme. The CBHE action supports international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of higher education. This action specifically targets higher education institutions of non-European countries which are not associated to the Erasmus+ Programme and which benefit from the cooperation with EU countries.

The project involves 15 partners from Ukraine, Georgia, Greece, and Germany working together for three years to develop new solutions to enhance digital education at an institutional and structural level, particularly addressing the specific circumstances faced by the project partners in Georgia and Ukraine. Additionally, the partners will collaborate to design a common framework for inclusive pedagogical methods in digital education, update existing curricula to meet the evolving needs of the labor markets in the partner countries, and provide policy recommendations to address country-specific challenges, such as connectivity issues in remote areas of Ukraine and Georgia.

Project Summary

RE-DIRECTION focusses on the needs of 10 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ukraine and Georgia regarding the transition to a more digital, inclusive and sustainable education. The project aims to prepare academic staff to update and redesign curricula based on the current needs of the labor market and the one of learners. Additionally, the project aims to develop policy recommendations on connectivity issues faced by remote HEIs and their students.

In detail, RE-DIRECTION aims at reinforcing Ukrainian and Georgian Universities with innovative forms of teaching, that enables academic staff to redesign and update current curricula. The focus will be on three key areas: digitalization, sustainability, and inclusivity.

With the aim to achieve a homogenous change in the teaching practice, a Methodological Framework will be developed, which will be based on desk and field research. The framework will put evidence on the current trends on higher education teaching methods, societal skills demand, best practices and the need to identify training gaps in the existing curricula.

Based on the framework, 6 curricula will be reviewed and updated, including the creation of core and specialized course outlines. These courses will be validated by a Consultation Committee to ensure that standards and regulations are followed.

During the piloting phase of the redesigned curricula, important data will be extracted, with a specific emphasis on remote HEIs and/or students residing in remote areas. Based on the findings, the partnership will involve stakeholders and policy makers in the development of policy recommendations in key areas such as: connectivity solutions, access to IT infrastructure, partnership with ISPs and innovative solutions i.e. 5G and mesh networks.

In general, the project will put a great focus on remote HEIs and institutions of vulnerable communities.

Partnership

13 Universities; 2 ministries, 1 international consultancy:

Ukraine: Kyiv Medical University; Dnipro University of Technology; Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University; Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy; Uzhhorod National University; Ministry of Education of Ukraine

Germany: Karlshochschule gemeinnützige GmbH (Coordinator); BK Consult GmbH

Greece: University of Patras; Metropolitan College

Georgia: Georgian International University; Shota Meskhia State Teaching University of Zugdidi; Gori State University; Ilia State University; Caucasus University; Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia

Contact

Main Coordinator: Lisa Wiedemann: lwiedemann(at)karlshochschule.org,

Principal Investigator: Robert Lepenies: rlepenies(at)karlshochschule.org

Coordinator within KMU: Oleksandr Potii, o.potii@kmu.edu.ua

Find out more about the project on: www.re-direction.org

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.