Erasmus Policy Statement

Internationalization is one of the main goals of the Integrated Business Faculty. A priority of our institution is providing education compliant with the needs of the business and public sector. Our success in that respect can be seen from the fact that 70% of our students find job immediately after finishing bachelor studies. We believe that the Erasmus program will add to creating more efficient education and research process, and even increase the number of students that find employment immediately after finishing the studies. Our higher education process relies on teaching the students beyond the curriculum, focusing on core values, skills and culture, which is supported by international mobilities through the Erasmus+ programme. Continuous investments in staff development, also supported through Erasmus+ international mobilities, are key at IBF as well.

The process begins with actively searching international partners with whom we sign inter-institutional agreements and develop cooperation at different levels – students’ and staff mobility, as well as cooperation on research and other projects. We are making efforts to extend cooperation with other institutions from Erasmus+ programme countries. We select our Erasmus partners for mobility according to the following criteria:

• The selected institution has to possess a valid Erasmus Charter;
• The curricula of the selected institution has to be compatible with the curricula at IBF.

In addition, preferences of the students and staff when searching for a partner are being considered. We welcome students’ and staff suggestions according to their preferences and we try to establish cooperation with the institutions they suggest, by having already fulfilled the two basic criteria stated above.

International student and staff mobility are valued immensely at IBF. We offer every student an opportunity to study abroad at our Erasmus+ partners. Staff mobility (including teaching and training staff) is also encouraged in order to promote collaboration, cooperation and life-long learning. We also value incoming mobilities where students from our partner institutions can select IBF, as we offer a wide range of course in English with the appropriate ECTS scaling, studies with no tuition fees and complete support for activities outside IBF (cultural, accommodation and visa support).

Mobility is encouraged and supported in all levels of staff (professors, researchers, administration, teachers etc.). These exchange programmes are supported by Erasmus funding. The mobility at all levels is seen as the key to an intensive cooperation and partnership.  Students’ and staff’s mobility is highly evaluated at our institution. We believe that it has high personal value for the individuals that go on mobility as well as high value for our institution.

The previously said also applies to cooperation on international research projects. We are particularly interested at extending our cooperation with Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) from the EU, as well as from other programme countries. We encourage and support our researchers to apply for projects under Key Actions from the Erasmus+ programme.

The Erasmus+ Charter is a doorway to many funding opportunities by the European Commission that supports our goals for further modernization and internationalization of the education and research processes at IBF in terms of:

• Students obtaining skills and knowledge that add to their innovativeness and prepare them for life and work;
• Staff that participates mobility becomes familiar with different and innovative teaching techniques;
• Opportunities for our institution to apply for different projects and establish long-term cooperation with institutions from programme countries.

International mobility through Erasmus+ is actively promoted at IBF and we rely on four key principles:

1.      Openness – Student and staff mobility opportunities are open for everyone at IBF. We try to promote the mobility using all channels available, including our web-page, e-learning system, class presentations, social media channel, e-mail, encourage word of mouth etc.

2.      Transparency – The process for awarding Erasmus+ grant is completely transparent for students and staff through publishing an extensive Erasmus+ guideline. Criteria is clearly set and visible for everyone.

3.      Support – The Erasmus+ office is in constant contact with each Erasmus+ participant throughout the process, providing all the necessary details, and resolving problems in the quickest and best way possible. Credit and mobility recognition is a top priority for every participant through Erasmus+.

4.      Knowledge sharing – Each participant is given the opportunity to share the knowledge gained through Erasmus+, which is vital for self-development, as well as for creating an Internationalization culture at IBF.