International strategy

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION STRATEGY OF THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE

The internationalization strategy of the Faculty of Agriculture follows the university's strategy, focusing on the three pillars: internationalization in education, internationalization in research and internationalization in university extension and mobility programs.

• Internationalization in education

Considering the continuous development of the labor market and the increasingly competitive requirements in the reference fields of the Faculty of Agriculture, internationalization is the binder and at the same time the educational direction in the next period. With an internationalization of education, structured and focused on intense cooperation with international partners in the field of higher education and with a solid partnership with the business and entrepreneurial environment, the chances of integrating graduates into the labor market become increasing, thus managing to generate and create professionals in the field.

In order to achieve this goal, the following directions are proposed:

• Development of new study programs in foreign languages. It is necessary to establish a master's program in the field of Agronomy in English, in order to have continuity of the bachelor's program with teaching in English, as well as a master's program in the field of Environmental Engineering in French, in order to ensure the continuity of the related bachelor's program. The promotion of these programs for both study cycles, including a new doctoral program in English, will be oriented towards the areas of Anglophone and Francophone influence, respectively, both through their own promotion and through the institutions authorized abroad (consulates, embassies, diplomatic missions), but also through the multiple partners within the international cooperation programs. At the same time, their promotion will be included in the international education fairs in which the university participates.

• Internationalised curriculum: Adapting curricula and curricula to current requirements, in order to include international perspectives and promote intercultural learning, will be carried out in line with new European trends and priorities. Thus, it is proposed to create a Joint Degree Programme with at least 2-3 universities, with a standardization of the curriculum at all partner universities and with the related recognition. These joint study programmes will start with the support of SMS E+ mobilities (study mobilities) for one semester with each partner.

Another important aspect in the international diversification of the study offer will be the implementation of online modules in a foreign language, especially for the acquisition of certain specific skills offered to those who want to improve in certain areas of the Faculty of Agriculture. These modules can be revenue-generating, culminating in a certification in the field.

• Human resource development: In order to ensure an academic framework oriented as much as possible towards certified international standards, the teaching staff of the Faculty of Agriculture will participate in continuous training courses in the field of foreign languages (French, English, intermediate and advanced level, technical language, specialized), organized on site, but also through Erasmus+ STT (training) mobilities with certified and recognized international organizations.

The development of the linguistic skills of the human resource within the Faculty of Agriculture has a multiple role, because, in addition to the involvement in the teaching process within the university, it aims to develop the concept of "visiting professor" by teaching at other universities following the agreements concluded on various common specialized fields.

• Attracting visiting professors: By creating mutual cooperation agreements in the academic field, the aim is to attract as many "guest professors" as possible to hold courses, respectively learning modules (both at the bachelor's and master's levels), thus giving the existing courses an international dimension, while bringing innovative elements and different perceptions on working methods: learning, teaching, know-how transfer. These mutual exchanges are very beneficial and productive, especially taking into account the diversity of international partners and their geographical positioning on all continents, especially in the field of life sciences which is approached with methods specific to each geographical area.

The advantages of these reciprocities will also contribute to the development of the students' personality, shaping future professionals, especially by enriching their general culture, offering them professional improvement and at the same time an improvement in the level of foreign language.

• International internship: The aim is to establish contacts with as many international partners as possible (higher education institutions, institutes, companies, NGOs, etc.) in order to develop internship agreements for the students of the Faculty of Agriculture, a practice that can vary from a minimum of 2 weeks to a longer interval. It is intended to develop the professional skills of our students, in an international environment, with technological methods and practices focused on the implementation and concrete application of theoretical knowledge, while contributing to the creation of the international profile of our student.

• Promoting diversity and inclusion: Creating an academic environment that encourages diversity and inclusion, both among students and academic staff. This may include support programs for international students, facilitating their integration into university life, and fostering a culture of mutual respect.

• Internationalization in research

Internationalization in research, an increasingly growing direction, characterized by the collaboration between the Faculty of Agriculture and institutions from various countries of the globe, in order to share resources, expertise and current issues, has the advantage of developing both joint, innovative and avant-garde projects, as well as stabilizing and concretizing immediate results, necessary for institutional development and positioning of the university in poles of excellence, respectively international rankings.

The concretization of the directions in the internationalization of research will involve:

• Development of international partnerships: Identifying and establishing partnerships with other universities or research institutions/institutes abroad in order to open new cooperations within international or national projects (national/local calls of partners), will also facilitate exchanges of researchers, students, doctoral students, teachers. It will be considered to try to increase interest in Horizon Europe projects, Erasmus+ KA2 projects, especially strategic cooperation partnerships, innovation alliances, centers of excellence, an international binder favorable to international research, in particular. These partnerships aim at the exchange of knowledge, transfer of know-how, innovative methods, experiences and good practices in the priority areas of the Faculty of Agriculture. These projects can address global issues and contribute to the development of sustainable and innovative solutions in this area.

• Creating a Research Excellence Hub: Together with international partners, faculty and researchers, it is intended to create a Research Excellence Hub in current fields, with collaborative, on-site and online workspaces. Through such initiatives, strong collaborative relationships are cultivated and maintained with existing partners, while developing new ones, while increasing the chances of attracting funding from international funds, thus positioning us as a leader and provider of education of the highest quality. In this regard, it is very important to communicate the results and disseminate the impact of the research carried out within the Hub of Excellence, both to the academic community and to the private sector at local, national and international level.

• Organization of international scientific events: It is a priority within the events of the Faculty of Agriculture, to be involved in supporting as many international scientific events as possible both on-site and online (conferences, workshops, webinars, round tables, symposia, debates) that have the role of emphasizing and presenting the research results of the local academic community and international partners, highlighting performance and excellence.

• Participation in international scientific events: Encouraging and facilitating the participation of teachers from the Faculty of Agriculture in international conferences, workshops, exhibitions, exhibitions in the field of life sciences. These activities can provide opportunities to collaborate and exchange ideas with experts from other countries.

• Publication of articles with researchers from abroad: An increase in the number of articles published in Open Access, with high visibility, by faculty professors and researchers, together with researchers from other universities or international institutions, is encouraged.

• Co-tutelage doctorates: Promoting doctoral programs and attracting doctoral students to carry out co-tutelage doctorates, coordinated by professors from the Faculty of Agriculture of the Doctoral School, respectively to be coordinators for students from other universities abroad, on a reciprocal basis.

• Internationalization in university extension and mobility programs

Through the internationalization of university extension, it will contribute to the promotion of the values of global citizenship, the development of intercultural competences of students and staff in the university, as well as to the collaboration with the international non-academic community to transmit knowledge, resources and experiences.

The focus will be on:

• Exchange and mobility program: Implementation of exchange and mobility programs (Erasmus+, Ceepus, EEA, Eugen Ionescu, Marie Curie scholarships) for students and teachers, which offer the possibility to study/teach or conduct research abroad for a certain period of time. These programs could include scholarships, internships, or collaborative research projects. The large-scale development of short-term mobility, especially in the case of doctoral students, while intensifying the number of BIPs (Blended Intensive Programs) where participants from several countries can cooperate and exchange experiences of good practices, while also benefiting from the virtual mobility component, in addition to the physical one.

• Organisation of summer schools: Reintroduction of summer schools and maintenance of mutual practice exchanges with partners (good practice model with Egyptian partners).

• Development of an international cooperation cluster: A network will be created with all the faculties in the field, both from EU and non-EU countries for the development of activities related to academic ones, including non-formal activities based on innovative education methods, with periodic meetings, on-site and online, thus contributing to the formation of common educational policies in our fields of reference and their transmission to the non-academic community.

• Involvement in the Diaspora: Development of large-scale activities, within the Education for the Diaspora project by involving specialists from the Faculty of Agriculture in specific and related activities.

• Promoting students and graduates internationally: Developing counselling and career training programmes to support the integration of students and graduates into the international labour market and facilitate their access to opportunities for employment or further study abroad.

• An international periodical: The dissemination at local, regional, national and international level of the internationalization activities of the Faculty of Agriculture will be done periodically, both on the faculty's website and on the related social media networks. Individualized pages will be created on social networks where they do not exist, Linkedin, Twitter, constantly promoting, in addition to the above-mentioned activities, the study programs in a foreign language.