Campus Europae Newsletter, May 2007

Table of contents

  • Bologna seen from Luxembourg: interview with Prof. Germain Dondelinger
  • Fast Facts
    • Joensuu requests CE membership
    • Trento students receive first CE Certificates
    • Nancy Universities to work increasingly together
    • Student council meeting in Alcalá
    • Teacher Traning Subject Committee meeting
    • Engineering Subject Committee meeting
    • Luxembourg and Alcalá receive very special guests 
  • Turning the focus on... Ankara
  • Upcoming events

Bologna seen from Luxembourg: interview with Prof. Germain Dondelinger

German Dondelinger, born 1953, Professeur attaché, is the coordinator for higher education in the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research. Prof. Dondelinger is also a member of the Bologna Follow Up Group since its founding (2001). In 2005, during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union, he took up its chairmanship and was heavily engaged in the negotiation of the Bergen Declaration, which has put the social dimension of student mobility at the center of the agenda. In conjunction with playing a fundamental role in the implementation of the University of Luxembourg he has also been engaged in the development of Campus Europae as a member of its Administrative Board.

Campus Europae: Prime Minister Juncker agreed to take over the patronage of Campus Europae in 2001 and the Luxembourg Government has been institutionally committed to its funding and development ever since 2004. What have been the motivations and expectations for this strong engagement in CE?

Germain Dondelinger: Student mobility has always been a cornerstone of higher education policy in Luxembourg. Having students trained and educated abroad is a source of cultural enrichment and yields economic benefits. Furthermore, the European dimension is at the heart of most policies and Luxembourg has traditionally been a staunch advocate of the European ideal. It was felt that Campus Europae would promote the European dimension of higher education, that it would complement existing measures while at the same time adding a further dimension to them. Encouraging students to study at two different foreign universities increases their language competencies as well as their cultural skills. It also increases their chances on the labor market.


The Luxembourg higher education has been revolutionized ever since the University was created in 2003. What can you tell us about this ongoing process, both regarding learned lessons and its mid-term development?

The University of Luxembourg is still very much in its start-up phase. It has just finished defining its priority areas for future research and the new bachelor and master programs are developing well. Furthermore, an increasing number of foreign students are choosing Luxembourg as their place of study. The university is also attractive to researchers with a solid scientific background as is shown by both the number and the quality of the applicants that would like to join the university. So far, there is a sense that the governance model, i.e. having a university with a board that enjoys great autonomy is the right one.

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Picture 1: Prof. Germain Dondelinger, coordinator for higher education in the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, Higher Education and Research

You are one of the promoters of the CE Degree. How do you situate this new offer in the context of the already existing European joint degrees and how would you describe its specific added value? Would you like to anticipate when it is likely that the first CE Degrees will be awarded?

At this stage there are not very many joint degrees being awarded in Europe. This is still quite a recent phenomenon. Campus Europae very much aspires to work like an integrated network and a joint degree would show this. The individual degree holder would benefit from it, since he/she would be in a position to demonstrate the international dimension of his education. The institutions, too, would hugely benefit from jointly offering programs defined in terms of learning outcomes. However, there is still work to do to understand the nature of joint degrees better and in order not to confuse a joint degree with a mere label. In this sense we have asked Campus Europae to indicate what study programmes are most likely to lead to the awarding of joint degrees, which universities are involved and what the status of the respective diploma is.

Having chaired the Bologna Follow-Up Group you were in a privileged position to follow the development of the Bologna Process across Europe. Now that eight years have past since the Bologna Declaration how to you feel that one its main targets - increasing student mobility – is being achieved?

Mobility remains the “parent pauvre” of the Bologna Process. While the structural reforms, i.e. the introduction of the three cycles, of the standards and guidelines for quality assurance make good progress, this is not the case for mobility, which has hardly risen over the last eight years. This also the reason why the ministerial meeting to be held in London this May will look into ways of promoting mobility. The student organization ESIB is becoming increasingly impatient at the lack of progress in this area and their pressure should add momentum to this area of the Bologna Process. This would be a welcome development.

Fast Facts

Joensuu requests CE membership

The University of Joensuu formerly requested membership in European University Foundation - Campus Europae in late April 2007. EUF-CE and the University of Joensuu have initiated exploratory contacts in autumn 2006 and following which since Rector Perttu Vartiainen met Prof. Noel Whelan, President of EUF-CE and Prof. Christoph Ehmann, Secretary-General of EUF-CE. The University of Joensuu also attended the last General Assembly of EUF-CE as a guest and has sent representatives to subject committees and student council meetings.

The University of Joensuu was established in 1969, has eight faculties and a student body of over 8500. Its strengths and areas of expertise are research and teaching relating to education and human development, forests and the environment, optics, new materials and information technology as well as border studies and Russia. Internationalization has been at the core of the University mission for over a decade and its successful experiences in the area are one of the Universities most widely acknowledged accomplishments.

External link: University of Joensuu

Trento students receive first CE Certificates

The Rector of the University of Trento, Prof. Davide Bassi, presided over the CE Certificate award ceremony to the first 10 Italian students who have participated in Campus Europae programmes. Also in attendance were Prof. Antonio Scaglia, Vice-Rector, Prof. Giovanni Pegoretti, Chair of the Business Subject Committee, Dr Susanna Cavagna, CE Coordinator, and Prof. Melgani.

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Picture 2: The Rector of the University of Trento, Prof. Davide Bassi, accompanied by the participants in the CE Certificate Ceremony

Nancy Universities to work increasingly together

The University Henry Poincaré, Université Nancy 2 and the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine are increasing their cooperation in the context of the creation of the Nancy-Université network which was been established in late March 2007. The three institutions aim to coordinate efforts in the fields of education and research in the context of the ongoing reform of the French higher education system.

Student council meeting in Alcalá

On Saturday the 21st the Campus Europae Student Council convened in the Universidad de Alcalá under the stewardship of the newly elected Presidency Krzysztof Kałużny of the University of Lodz and Vice President Joao Almeida of the University of Aveiro. The meeting included many new members who had their first introduction to Campus Europae. On the agenda were a number of points relating to the upcoming work programme of the student council which included plans relating to the upcoming preparations for next years round of CE movers. Reports regarding the status of this years round of CE movers were tabled by all members of the Student Council. The Student Council was delighted to welcome the University of Joensuu, Finland to their first meeting as the council’s newest member. The council also discussed future promotional paths that the council would wish to adopt as well as the CE buddy system and promotional packs. The Student Council discussed in depth ways to consolidate their cooperation and to explore avenues in which to increase communication between CE Student council members, which will ensure a smooth transition for next years CE movers to their new universities.

Teacher Traning Subject Committee meeting

The Teacher Training Subject Committee had its meeting on April 2nd and 3rd 2007 at the University of Örebro Sweden. Members from nine of the ten active member universities were present to discuss the latest developments in the teaching of education at the partaking institutions and the consequences of the introduction of the BA/MA-system, to update the matrices, and to agree on the acceptance of applicants for the exchange during the academic year 2007/2008. It is expected that between 33 and 37 students will take part in the teacher training exchange.

Engineering Subject Committee meeting

The Engineering Subject Committee meeting was held in Nancy, France on the 30th of March 2007. Apart from the reports about the ongoing progress of the project, members discussed the study plans, the ongoing development of the CE matrices and numbers for the next academic year. There are approximately 25 students interested in taking part in the CE exchange this year. Furthermore, the University of Alcalá (the latest Committee member) was introduced to the committee.

Luxembourg and Alcalá receive very special guests

The King and Queen of Spain visited the Universities of Luxembourg and Alcalá during the fourth week of April 2007.

  • On the 18th April 2007 Queen Sofia was received at the University of Luxembourg by the Minister of Higher Education, Culture and Research, Minister François Biltgen, the Rector Prof Rolf Tarrach, and the Vice-Rector Dr. Jean-Paul Lehners.
    Queen Sofia met with Spanish students and discussed student life and activities in the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg with them..
  • On the 23th April 2007, King Juan Carlos was joined by Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero, Minister of Culture Carmen Calvo, Rector Virgilio Zapatero and other personalities to award the Cervantes Prize to the poet Antonio Gamoneda, at the University of Alcalá.
    The Prize Cervantes is the most outstanding literary prize in the Spanish language and is awarded yearly in the Hall of the University of Alcalá.

Turning the spotlight on... Ankara

The Ankara University and the State University of St Petersburg are the newest member of the Campus Europae network. Situated in the capital of Turkey, the University of Ankara takes great pride in its mission and origins as its creation was an integral part of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk reforms, which led to sweeping changes in the political, economic and cultural spheres of Turkey and aimed at creating a modern, democratic and secular state based on Western principles of governance.

In the following paragraphs we cover details relating to the University of Ankara, and in the next newsletter we shall cover details relating to the State University of St. Petersburg.


Ankara University is a comprehensive public university located in the capital of the nation. Being the first higher education institute of the Republic, it has established a reputable image both within the country and in the international arena, with its vast experience for 60 years, its highly qualified academic staff and its well established teaching, learning and research facilities.

During the past sixty years, Ankara University has achieved great progress in the fields of education, training and research. While increasing its physical capacity, the university managed to improve its academic quality as well. At present the University offers top quality education and training in nearly 40 vocational, over two hundred undergraduate and graduate programs, including basic and applied sciences such as agriculture, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, science, engineering, veterinary medicine and social sciences including communications, divinity, education, law, humanities and political science.

 

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Picture 3: The Conservatory is one of the twelve schools integrated in the University of Ankara

The University takes is very proud not only of its graduates but also in their contributions in serving the nation. The 10th President of the Republic of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer as well as a significant number of the cabinet ministers, public sector administrators, high court judges are graduates of Ankara University. We are very proud of their contributions to the overall development of the country.

We constantly make efforts to improve the quality of education-training programs at every level. We closely monitor the advancements taking place in this area and review our programs to provide more flexible and functional education-training and to equip our students with the skills and knowledge required by the changing circumstances. In redesigning the programs, our aim is to provide the students with a number of elective courses and options that are not only in line with the students’ interests and needs but that also build on their previous achievements, fill the gaps, and meet the demands of the market.


Ankara University was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish   Republic. The first and most impressive performance of the young Republic in the field of higher education was to establish the following higher education institutions: School of Law, to train judiciary who were to realize the new order of law in the secular and democratic Republic (1925); Institute of Technology for Agriculture, to lead the modernization of Turkish agriculture (1933); School of Languages, History and Geography, to establish a bridge of language and culture between Turkey and the rest of the world and to conduct research on the rich culture of Anatolia (1935); and School of Political Science, which had been training top level public administrators under the name of Mekteb-i Mülkiye since 1859, and which was later on moved to Ankara in 1936 upon the directive of Atatürk. We should also mention the schools of which the preparation stage was started by Atatürk, yet the establishment postponed until the beginning of 1940’s due to Second World War. Among those schools, was Schools of Medicine and Science.

 

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Picture 4: The Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, one of the main sites in Ankara

Ankara University comprising Faculty of Law (1925), Faculty of Language, History and Geography (1935), Faculty of Science (1943), and Faculty of Medicine (1945) was established officially in 1946. The University acquired the Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine previously belonged to the Institute of Technology for Agriculture in 1948. School of Divinity was founded in 1949; Faculty of Political Sciences in 1950, then came the School of Pharmacy in 1960, and in 1963 School of Dentistry which later became a faculty in 1977, Faculty of Educational Sciences in 1965, and Faculty of Communication in 1965. Çankırı Faculty of Forestry and Health Education Faculties were opened to education in 1996.

Today Ankara University is a highly esteemed university with its 15 Faculties, 9 Graduate Schools, 10 Vocational Schools, a State Conservatory and 30 Research Centers.

There is currently 3546 highly qualified academic staff working at Ankara University. Of this figure 1069 are professors, 317 are associate professors and 255 are assistant professors. There are 7820 vocational, 26658 undergraduate and 8734 graduate students receiving education at the University with a total number enrolled, 43212.

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Picture 5: Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Ankara

Ankara University has been the parent University for several universities which reached top quality education today. There are more than 2800 graduates of Ankara University, who work as academic staff at different universities all over Turkey.

The University conducts high quality research and offers education and training in every scientific area including Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Science, Engineering and Agriculture, and in almost every social science area.

We provide quality health services to tens of thousands of people through our health clinics and hospitals, with a bed capacity of more than 2500.

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Picture 6: One of the many libraries in the University

At the University, language of teaching is Turkish, yet we also know that being fluent at least in one foreign language is essential for our students. With this idea in mind, we have made available the foreign language preparatory schools.

Ankara University TOMER (Turkish Language Teaching, Research and Implementation Centre), with it’s across the country branches, is providing language education to more than 20000 people in 20 different languages per year. These services are not only used by Turkish people but also by foreigners.

As the nations prepare themselves for 2000’s, developed countries, in particular, are competing to establish a monopoly in science and technology to increase their market share. In this race, the most valuable resource we have is our youth. Aware of this fact, our University aims to catch up with the process of change in the world, in its education and research activities. The most ordained mission of the University is to train our youth with having the following virtues: faithful to the Atatürk's teachings and secular order of the country with well developed ability to think, perceive, question, find solutions to problems, and undertake responsibilities; open minded, appreciative of authentic culture and traditional values, highly skilled and qualified.

As a result of specific conditions brought about by its historical development, and like in many other well established older universities of big cities, Ankara University too carries out its activities in a multi campus system.

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Picture 7: The interior of the Kocatepe Mosque, the largest in Ankara and the second largest in Turkey


The Faculties of Ankara University are:
Faculty of Agriculture
Faculty of Communication
Faculty of Dental Medicine
Faculty of Divinity
Faculty of Educational Science
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Forestry in Çankırı
Faculty of Health Education
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Letters
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Political Sciences
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 
 
Vocational schools:
Ankara University State Conservatory
Cebeci School of Health
School of Physical Education and Sports
Çankırı Technical Training College
Çankırı School of Health
Vocational School of Justice
School of Home Economics
Başkent Vocational School
Beypazarı Vocational School
Dikimevi Vocational School of Health
Kalecik Vocational School
School of Foreign Languages
 

Living Expenses

A student will require a minimum of about 375 euro per month for living expenses including accommodation, food, transportation and cleaning.
 
Accomodation

Ankara University has 4 dormitories inside the city, 2 for female 2 for male students. The state owned as well as private dormitories throughout Ankara are also open to international students.

Learning the Turkish Language

The language of instruction in Ankara University is Turkish. The Turkish and Foreign Language Research and Application Centre of Ankara University (TÖMER) offers Turkish Courses to all interested foreigners, before or after application or placement to a university. For more information:  http://www.tomer.ankara.edu.tr/  

Upcoming events

Meeting of the Humanities Subject Committee

Lodz- 1st of June

Meeting of the Medicine Subject Committee

Luxembourg - 2nd of June

The next Campus Europae newsletter is due for the 1st of June. To unsubscribe please visit this link.