Erasmus Policy Statement

All students shall be provided with sufficient academic/professional skills and cultural understanding to act professionally in the international workplace.

• All bachelor and master students will be given opportunity to participate in mobility actions.
• All curricula shall point out periods suitable for student mobility.
• Further development of staff e-learning competence to be able to provide education across boarders.
• To offer master degrees in cooperation with European partner institutions.
• Increase participation in European research-projects.
• Further development of subjects lectured in English.
• Provide adequate information to students and faculty (in- and outgoing) on mobility opportunities, language preparations etc.
• Provide opportunities for faculty to increase their competence in English.

Early in the period of the LLP priority will be given to increase the amount of student and staff mobility, IP-projects, development of partnerships simultaneously relevant to mobility and research cooperation and to increase the number of subjects lectured in English. Later more emphasis may be given to CD-projects, development of joint degrees and Erasmus Mundus masters etc. HiST has been, and will be, active in e-learning projects. In the lifespan of LLP we aim to broaden our activity in various LLP-actions, especially Leonardo. Erasmus activities will be given visibility through various actions. Internet will be a main channel to promote Erasmus opportunities/activities to students and staff. In a new student-portal and intranet solution, to be launched summer 2007, we aim to make our Erasmus/European policy, the EUC, mobility opportunities, participation in other actions and mobility reports easily accessible to students and staff. Policy, priorities and opportunities is promoted through regular information meetings. HiST is based on academic and humanistic values, emphasising human worth, equality and participation. Xenophobia, racism or discrimination on gender, sexuality or disabilities has no place in an academic institution. HiST expects all students and staff to live up to these standards. Student and staff services and support is offered regardless of gender, race, sexuality or socio-economic background. HiST aims at a gender balanced student body, emphasis on student recruitment across traditional gender patterns. Together with partners HiST has established a centre of competence to support disabled students in admission, learning processes and career planning. National policy and systems of student funding ensures equal rights to higher education regardless of socio-economic background.

HiST has a quality assurance system accredited by The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education. Quality assessment and improvement in academic mobility activities is an integrated part of this system. Scrutinizing of curricula, preparatory and monitoring visits, feedback from students and staff, adequate information and transparency are important elements. An academic year consists of 60 credits, and thus, a Bachelor degree of 180 credits. All subjects within a curriculum are allocated a certain number of credits based on student workload. To ensure recognition of credits taken at partner institutions, students are required to set up a plan for the mobility period, including planned subjects, and present this to the international coordinator for approval prior to departure. All later changes must be approved by the international coordinator. Learning agreements are an important tool to ensuring good practice in credit recognition. All faculties have an international coordinator responsible for providing information and counselling to in- and outgoing students. Coordinators meet regularly to ensure equal routines and standards throughout the institution. International coordinators at faculty and central level are responsible for activities ensuring good tutoring and integration of incoming students. The Student Association has an active interest in international questions, and plays a crucial role in social integration of students. The same level of student services is provided to own and visiting students from partner institutions. SiT is the organisation responsible for providing services such as accommodation, health care, cantinas etc. By agreement all incoming students are secured accommodation in student dormitories. All incoming students are offered an introductory course in Norwegian language and culture. Staff mobility is supported mainly through financial means in addition to Erasmus funding, and counselling from international coordinators.