Outcome 3. Introduction and consolidation of the three-cycle study programmes

The preparation of the Masters programme in Entrepreneurship and LED will be the vehicle for the establishment of three-cycle study programmes in partner country Faculties.  Both partners in Kosovo and two in Macedonia have already established the first cycle (the Bachelors) programmes but few have established the second cycle and almost none have an established third cycle (doctorate) programme.  This Project will enable the participating universities to learn from each other and from EU partners, and support each other to consolidate the new Bologna style programmes and take a major step in the reform of higher education. 

This Outcome will be achieved through several Workshops and study visits.  In the first year of the Project, at a Workshop in Albania involving representatives from all nine universities, EU partners and individual experts will run sessions on different aspects of the three-cycle Bologna system (including ECTS, Quality Assurance procedures, diploma supplements, student mobility, etc.).

The experience of partner faculties will then be disseminated to other Faculties of partner country universities with the support of the Rectorates and their Quality Assurance Offices.  Another large Workshop for all nine universities will be organised in Albania.  This Workshop will review the achievements of partner universities in the implementation of the new system; discuss problems which may have arisen in the process and use the experience of consortium partners to find solutions for these problems. 

This outcome of the Project will be particularly important in strengthening the links between the universities in the region and facilitating the mobility of their students and staff – a major objective of the European Higher Education Area and reform of higher education in the three countries.  The Workshops bringing representatives from all partner country universities together will be an important vehicle for creating synergy which will benefit the higher education system in the region.