All projects coordinators gathered in modern and fascinating University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn to summarize all what already have been done.
A welcoming speech was given by Prof Ryszard Górecki, rector of UWM, and was addressed to the project meeting participants. After speech Mr. Górecki awarded university medal to Prof Harsha Ratnaweera, project coordinator, for establishing and development of inter-institutional collaborations between UWM and NMBU.
After opening session participants had a chance to familiarize themselves with labs and modern equipment of different departments. Prof. dr. Eng. Margaret Jankun-Woźnicka presented researches in physical limnology, purification of natural water, protection and restoration of waterbodies, impacts of production facilities to water quality, removal of nutrients from water courses and monitoring of aquatic ecosystem. And Dr. Michael Shovel and Agata Głowacka-Gil presented research work on reclamation of lakes.
Intense discussions were over and participants started working with project objects. It were presented conclusions of Needs analysis, which included next main observations, that the most common form for education is the lecture, but nevertheless practical experiences are also used in more than 70 % of partner universities; the use of modern forms of visual tools (video projectors, Touchscreen or smartboard) is on a very low rate. But then again, action plan was developed and project will try to overcome it challenges.
Another topic of discussion was e‐learning. Only in Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology and Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences this tool is used. In most of the cases e‐learning platforms are used for the deposition of lecture material and additional material of the courses. The use for online courses of online tests isn’t very common at the moment. Now two e-lerning platforms are in use at OWL UAS and USUCT, which was demonstrated. Both platforms provide interactive communication between the teacher and students at different stages of the learning and individual work with materials.
Participants discussed the results of staff mobility action, which involved 6 teachers from Ukrainian partner universities to NMBU, carried out during 10-16 July 2016. It has been concluded in the reports from training participants who said that current activity was very well organized and new knowledge would be implemented in teaching process.
Next staff mobility will be organized for teachers and junior staff from Norway, Poland and Germany partner universities to USUCT (UA). Three staff members will be traveling to USUCT on 17-23 October.
The meeting was held very productively and was organized on the highest level. Next time when participants can see each other will be in Qingdao (China) 1-4 of December.
Serhii Shmyhol, sergioshyhol@gmail.com
