Erasmus Policy Statement

Szkoła Wyższa Wymiaru Sprawiedliwości (later called: the University) was established in 2018, so we are at the beginning of our academic development, hence there is the emphasis on developing international cooperation, which would be enabled by our participation in the ERASMUS+ programme. Moreover, as a uniformed university of the Prison Service, the activity of our institution contributes to supplementing the education for armed, uniformed services in Poland. Due to the huge demand and developing plans of the central government, we intend to increase the number of students, faculties and hire new teaching staff many times over in the coming years.

Thus, participation in the Erasmus+ programme would enable the development and support of the educational mobility of people associated with the organisation: teaching staff and students.  Within the frames of KA1 and KA2 sub-measures in the first period we would like to develop cooperation with partners from other countries within the framework of the University’s development. It is worth noting that the approach to the prison service in other ERASMUS+ countries is different than in Poland. Thus, establishing international cooperation would be worthwhile in order to develop a non-native world view, which may result in the introduction of good practices and the adoption of innovative teaching and learning methods in higher education. In addition, we want to intensively support and persuade our students to travel within the ERASMUS+ programme. We believe that studies abroad will greatly broaden their horizons and the knowledge they will gain, as well as enable them to have a broader perspective on the substantive issues discussed in our courses. We would like them to have full opportunities to get to know other scientific and student communities, which will lay the foundation for future international cooperation. It is our wish that the students who take part in the project will, at least in part, remain active researchers and that their potential will be an added value for our organisation. In addition, we are very keen to host foreign students so that they can develop here too, while at the same time enabling the teaching staff to broaden their knowledge of the subject in their home country.

As part of the ERASMUS+ programme, we plan to promote and support students of our courses and teaching staff to enable their development and educational mobility regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation and other discriminatory policies. We place great emphasis on international cooperation without discriminating, in any way, against the country of origin of students or teaching staff who wish to work with us. Our education and work organisation system is adapted to the Bologna system adopted in Europe. Nevertheless, the Univeristy will continuously monitor the development of the European System of Education and Higher Education in order to best adapt, update the international strategy and draw on the provisions and arrangements mentioned in the framework of the Bologna Process. Our courses and subjects have been arranged in such a manner that it is clear and easy to admit ECTS credits independently at other international universities. ECTS credits for individual courses and their clarity are available to everyone on the website in the form of the Rector’s Order (Course Catalogue).

As part of our existing international cooperation, we have international agreements and bilateral agreements. A larger database of courses is available within the EPTA (European Penitentiary Training Academies) consortium in which we are the coordinator (EPTA Presidency). Within this course database one will also find our proposals. In addition, we have 3 bilateral agreements, one with Hungary and 2 with France. Participation in ERASMUS+ facilitates communication and cooperation in countries and scientific entities to which we do not have such wide access without the programme. This includes collaborations with various universities from the programme’s member and partner HEI lists, among others. Thus, participation in ERASMUS+ would enable cooperation with other organisations, institutions and universities. In addition, as an organisation, we intend to conduct numerous conferences and collaborative research with universities across the community, and participation in the ERASMUS+ programme would give us a better chance at finding a partner. We are keen to develop our University’s network of contacts, and this would contribute to the development of strategic cooperation and accelerate scientific development in areas of interest to the University.

We intend to support initiatives promoting international cooperation put forward by our academics and students. We want to provide administrative and logistical support, access to information, access to volunteering and initiatives aimed at deepening European ties.

We want our activities to contribute to developing people’s sense of European solidarity and identity. We would like them to change the awareness of our citizens and increase mutual trust and cooperation between people. Such opportunities are provided by our participation in the ERASMUS+ programme.

We would like to participate very intensively in the ERASMUS+ programme, which we consider to be a huge opportunity for the development of our University. As part of the implementation of the ERASMUS+ programme, we are planning collaborations according to the following list:

Key Action 1 (KA1)

• Mobility of students (internships or study courses) — a trip to our University. As part of this, we enable students from similar fields of study to study for 1 or more semesters at our University or to complete an internship or a work placement in a field of study similar to one of our courses. The arrival of a foreign student in our country allows one to get to know other cultures, lifestyles, approaches to a particular scientific field (field of study). We can consider such knowledge a two-way exchange. Not only will the student have the opportunity to learn about our reality, but also our teaching staff will be able to learn from such a student. In accordance with the rules of our school, the student will be treated with respect for the rights of equality. In addition, graduates of our University or a foreign university will be able to take internship opportunities within a year of graduation. Recruitment for the trip will be conducted in the final year at the home university;

• Mobility of research staff — trips of the members of our research staff in order to acquire new knowledge, learn about the realities of other Member States. Such a trip may be made in order to teach at another university or to receive additional qualification training. The selection of staff to be sent abroad within the ERASMUS+ programme will be carried out in accordance with generally applicable principles of ethics and with respect for the rights of equality.

Key Action 2 (KA2)

• Establishing partnerships. Participation in ERASMUS+ facilitates communication and cooperation in countries and scientific entities to which we do not have access without the programme. This includes collaborations with various universities from the partner HEI lists. Thus, participation in ERASMUS+ would enable cooperation with other organisations, institutions and universities. In addition, as an organisation, we intend to conduct numerous conferences and collaborative research with universities across the community, and participation in the ERASMUS+ programme would give us a better chance at finding a partner. We are keen to develop our University’s network of contacts, and this would contribute to the development of strategic cooperation and accelerate scientific development in areas of interest to the University.

The implementation of the KA1 sub-measure through student exchange produces tangible results for programme beneficiaries, i.e. improved learning performance; enhanced employability and career prospects; increased sense of initiative and entrepreneurship; increased independence and self-esteem; improved language and digital competences; increased intercultural awareness; more active participation in society; better awareness of the European project and EU values; increased motivation to participate in future (formal/informal) education or training after the mobility period abroad.

In turn, the teaching staff benefiting from ERASMUS+ opportunities under the KA1 sub-measure will be able to improve their competences related to their professional profiles (teaching, training, youth work, etc.); gain a broader understanding of other practices, policies and systems in education, training or youth work in different countries; improve the quality of their work and activities for students; enhance their understanding of social, linguistic and cultural diversity and develop interpersonal skills in order to better respond to it. The individual benefits for the teaching staff taking advantage of the programme will be increased professional and career development opportunities and improved language and digital competences. In addition, the development and training of the teaching staff will have a direct impact on increasing the capacity to drive change in terms of modernisation and openness to the world within our educational organisation.

Through the implementation of the KA2 sub-measure, our academic staff will be able to develop a range of skills, i.e. innovative approaches to education, for example through: more attractive education and training curricula, tailored to the individual needs and expectations of students; more effective community outreach activities; new or improved practices to meet the needs of target groups with fewer opportunities and to address the differences in learning outcomes associated with geographical and socio-economic differences; new approaches to addressing social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity; new approaches to better supporting competitiveness and employment, particularly at the regional and local level. Acquisition of these skills by the higher education teaching staff will enable the creation of a more modern, dynamic, engaged and professional environment within our organisation, resulting in a greater willingness to integrate good practice and new methods, including digital opportunities, into daily activities; to be open to synergies with other organisations working in different fields or in other socio-economic sectors; to plan the strategic professional development of academic staff in line with their individual needs and organisational objectives. Furthermore, through cooperation with various international partners at our University, the capacity and professionalism to work at EU or international level will be enhanced. Reinforcement of collaboration with partners from other countries, from other fields of education, training and students or other socio-economic sectors is anticipated. A measurable result may also be an increase in the allocation of financial resources (other than EU funds) for the organisation of projects in the field of education, student training and, consequently, an improvement in the quality of preparation of the teaching staff, implementation, monitoring of international projects.

All these skills will have a huge impact on the ability to educate students in the further development of the University.

In the future, we would like to introduce joint degree programmes with interested universities and attract international teaching staff to the project. Although these are distant plans as we are a fledgling higher school, along with the development of the University we would like to introduce them within our ranks. The ERASMUS+ programme would definitely make it possible to establish cooperation with Member States more quickly. 

As an institution, we have the administrative facilities to support students, staff and liaise with overseas organisations. We have the resources ready to communicate freely in English, but also other world languages. A position of a mobile programme coordinator will be created to serve foreign visitors.

Through staff training, we want to implement good practices present in other educational systems, which we can learn directly from foreign staff. We want to ensure that our teaching staff have access to a wide range of attractive scientific sources to use freely. Such actions will lead to the inclusion of our researchers in the international community and will increase the prestige of the University.

We are committed to ensuring that our students significantly increase their mobility and courageously participate in the international collaboration initiated by their participation in the project.

Their development will also contribute to the growth of our organisation, as we will strive to ensure that they stay at the University and share the knowledge they have gained with the entire community of our school.

The authorities of the University strongly support all kinds of cooperation initiatives at an international level, so participation in the ERASMUS+ programme would in a way open up some opportunities for cooperation to which we currently do not have such wide access.

We are convinced that the ERASMUS+ programme will have a positive impact on the development of our University, raising the competence and qualifications of our research staff, increasing awareness of the policy of equal rights and opportunities at our school. Moreover, the ERASMUS+ programme makes it possible to find and establish international collaboration, which is a key element in the development of such a young school as we are. We anticipate that the programme will change perceptions of Europeanisms and reinforce European identity in its recipients. The programme will develop international cooperation, increase mutual trust and lead to greater understanding between people and institutions.

Assuming that our University gets the honour of joining the ranks of the ERASMUS+ programme by the end of 2021, we would like to assume the following objectives, which we intend to implement within 2 years of signing the cooperation agreement according to the list presented below:

• Key Action 1 (KA1) — Mobility of students (internships or study courses ) — a trip to our University. At least 3–4 of our students will be sent within the frames of the ERASMUS programme to expand their knowledge. It is worth noting here that we currently have 98 students in uniformed service and 47 students in civil service. Due to the fact that we are such a young school these rates have been assumed to be realistic. We sincerely believe that with the development of other fields of study and the University itself, these rates would be in the region of 10 students per year. We also assume that at least 4 students from partner countries will come to us for a student exchange programme (if there is such interest);

• Key Action 1 (KA1) — Mobility of research staff — trips of the members of our research staff in order to acquire new knowledge, learn about the realities of other Member States. At least 3–4 of our academic staff will be sent within the frames of the ERASMUS programme to expand their competences. Due to the fact that we are such a young school these rates have been assumed to be realistic. We sincerely believe that with the development of other fields of study and the University itself, these rates would become highly increased. We also assume that at least 4 members of the teaching staff from the partner countries will come to us for an exchange (if there is such an interest);

• Key Action 2 (KA2) — Establishing partnerships. Based on our current experience, we are committed to signing at least one international partnership agreement.