1

Erasmus Mundus Workshop

Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions

Presentation of the Survey Results

Natalia Spartakova and Julia Saering, ICUnet

Brussels, 3 October 2012

(revised on January 11, 2013)

2

Agenda

1. Presentation of Contractor 2. Survey Methodology 3. Survey Coverage 4. Survey results

a) The Erasmus Mundus Programmes in the Thematic Field b) The Labour Market in the Thematic Field c) Research in the Thematic Field d) Activities in the Thematic Field e) Cooperation in the Thematic Field f) Benefits and Challenges of Cooperation g) Perception of Future Developments

5. Recommendations 6. Conclusion

3

1) Presentation of Contractor: ICUnet

• ICUnet stands for “I see you” and intercultural network

• Founded in 2001

• Offices in Germany, Austria and Shanghai

• Core services

• Intercultural consulting (trainings) and research

• Expatriates’ assignment management

• Intercultural events management

• Management of international alumni associations and online communities

• Service Provider for the Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association (EMA) and the OCEANS Network

4

2) Survey Methodology –Questionnaire

• May 7 to June 13, 2012

• 2459 potential participants were invited by email • 2347 student/alumni/fellows registered in the EMA community

• 70 Erasmus Mundus Action 1 course coordinators

• 8 Coordinators of Attractiveness Projects

• 452 Respondents • 49 Erasmus Mundus Action 1 Master Course/Joint Doctorate

coordinators/staff/faculty

• 401 Erasmus Mundus Action 1 students/alumni/fellows

• 2 Attractiveness Projects Coordinators Follow-up interviews

5

2) Survey Methodology – Interviews

• Qualitative interviews via telephone with 5 Attractiveness Project Coordinators: • Stelios Grafakos, Coordinator LEANCC (Linking European,

Asian and African Academic Networks on Climate Change) • Simon Heath, Coordinator of AMEU (Promoting Masters

programmes in agricultural and related sciences at European universities)

• Andrea Capodaglio, Coordinator of E4DCs (European Environmental Engineering Education for Developing Countries)

• Cristina Silva, Coordinator of Iseki Mundus 2 (Internationalisation and Sustainability of ISEKI_Food Network)

• Thomas Fischer, Coordinator of Two EAM (Enhancing Attractiveness if Environmental Assessment and Management)

6

2) Survey Methodology – Focus Group

• Venue: General Members Assembly of the EMA in Prague

• Date: June 22, 2012 from 15:00 to 16:00.

• Participants: 9 active members from the relevant Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes

• Empowerment of students and alumni: Creation of Cluster Group on new EMA Community webpage for information exchange

7

4) Survey Results

a) The Erasmus Mundus Programme (Content and added-value) in the Thematic Field of Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions

b) The Labour Market in the Thematic Field

c) Research in the Thematic Field

d) Activities in the Thematic Field

e) Cooperation in the Thematic Field

f) Benefits and Challenges of Cooperation

8

The Erasmus Mundus Programme in the Thematic Field of Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions

Field of Erasmus Mundus programme

23%

24%

4%5%

30%

14%

Agriculture and Veterinary Engineering, Manufacture and CosntructionHealth and Welfare Humanities and ArtsScience, Mathematics and Computing Social Sciences, Business and Law

N = 447 respondents

9

Number of Courses Related to Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions

Number of modules connected to "Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions"

within the EM Joint Programmes

11%

11%

35%16%

27%

More than 10 modules 5-10 modules 2-5 modules 1 modules No modules at all

N = 410

respondents

10

Main Added-Value of the EM Joint Programmes in the Thematic Field

11

Aims of Attractiveness Projects in the Thematic Field

• Promotion of European higher education connected to climate change and sustainable solutions

• Collecting information about education on the topic in non-European countries

• Review of existing education programmes in the thematic field

• Foster dialogue and cooperation between participating institutions

• Development of thematic networks

12

The Labour Market in the Thematic Field

Relation of employment to Climate Change and/or Sustainable Solutions?

61%

39%

Yes

No

75% of the graduated respondents have indicated that they are employed.

N = 132 respondents

13

Field of Work in the Thematic Field

9c. In which field do you work? - Master Graduates -

19%

36%21%

14%

10%

Business organisation Academic institution Non-profit organisation

Public service Other

N = 78 respondents

14

Labour Market Preparation by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes

• Good practices and suggestions

• Multidisciplinary approach introducing several aspects specialised approach of preparing for

one specific discipline

• Combination of theoretical and practical knowledge

• Importance of Networking and Partnerships with private and public institutions

• Development of personal skills

15

Research in the Thematic Field

• Idea from focus group: ”Each year the leaving cohort could present their master thesis to the incoming cohort, either as a general event or in the different modules fitting the topic of the course”.

12a. Have you been engaged in any research related to the topic of climate change

mitigation and sustainable solutions?

45

43

44

39

51

55

57

56

61

49

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

N = 371

Coordinators/Staff/Faculty

N1 = 37

Phd Fellows

N2 = 9

Master Students

N3 = 154

Master Graduates

N4 = 171

Yes No

16

Research Topics in the Thematic Field

• Effects of climate change

• Energy

• Climate change and governance aspects

• Sustainable urban development

• Climate change mitigation strategies

• Climate change adaptation strategies

• Ecosystems

• Climate change and higher education

• Ecological - /Carbon Footprint methodologies

• Geo-Information Systems (GIS)

• Climate change and media

17

Activities: Conferences/Workshops

• Online course organised by LEANN CC to prospective students • Erasmus Mundus Conference on Higher Education and

Climate Change • GeoMundus Conference, organised by students from the

consortium of GEOTECH • Summer School on Mediterranean Forestry as part of MEDfOR • “Sustainable Motion”: sustainability career day, Utrecht

University • Resilient Cities Conference • Education without Borders International Student Conference • World Urban Forum organised by UN HABITAT • Young Friends of the Earth (YFOE) Europe workshop • Organisation of conferences and seminars by Attractiveness

Projects

18

Activities: Competitions

• Master/PhD thesis competition in the field of climate change and sustainable solutions

• Competition on publication of a research project in the field of climate change and sustainable solutions as an article in a magazine

• Attendance of the Cop 15 student conference as a result of “sustainable resource award”: project on sustainable design

19

Activities: Internships

• Three categories of internships • Completing and internship as an elective, an optional choice • Mandatory internships during one semester • Internships completed in the framework of the master thesis

• Good practices

• MUNDUS URBANO students are strongly encouraged to take internships, voluntarily in the first year in semester breaks and in the second year, a period of at least three months. The universities facilitate contacts and bureaucratic procedures for application and supports the students in the application process.

• Within the STEPS programme, internships are linked to the Master Thesis in an associated partner university or company. They are then co-tutored by a Master's professor and an external person belonging to the associated partner.

20

Activities: Professional Networking

• Cluster of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, University of Oviedeo

• Klimacampus and the Cluster of Excellence "Integrated Climate System Analysis and Prediction“, University of Hamburg.

• Nanophotonics for Energy Network, cooperation with EUROPHOTONICS

• INNOTOUR: web-based platform for education, research and business development in tourism, University of Southern Denmark in cooperation with EMTM

• Sustainable Events Alliance in cooperation with EMTM • Regional Centres of Expertise - “network of existing [..]

education organisations, mobilised to deliver education for sustainable development to local and regional communities”

• World Student Community for Sustainable Development • E-platform, database of European education programmes

connected to the topic by Attractiveness Projects

21

Activities: Volunteer Activities

• Involvement in a student organisation

• “European Day of Environment”, European Students’ Forum AEGEE

• Creation of a Facebook Group for energy and environment related EM students

• UN online volunteering: “connecting volunteers with organisations working for sustainable human development”

• Participation in World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)

• Participation in a local project “Incredible Edible Todmorden” – The future of local food in Todmorden

22

Activities: Innovative Projects

• Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe: Green Academic Footprint

• Best green University practices, Green UiO

• 3-day start-up competition at TU Delft

• REALISE IT: innovative Joint projects of the EMA and OCEANS network projects – “Go Green” and “SustEMAbility”

• “Ethical Protocol for Research”: sustainability of research activities

23

Cooperation in the Thematic Field: Between EM Action 1 Joint Programmes

Cooperate/Organisation of Joint Activities between Erasmus Mundus Joint

Programmes in the field of "Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions"

7

92

92

8

8

93

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

N = 317

Coordinators/Staff/Faculty

N1 = 30

Students/Graduates/Fellows

N2= 287

Yes No

24

Cooperation in the Thematic Field: EM Action 1 Joint Programmes - Action 3 Attractiveness Projects

Cooperation/Organisation of Joint Activities between Erasmus Mundus Action1 Joint

Programmes and Action 3 Attractiveness Projects in the Field of "Climate Change and

Sustainable Solutions"

2

3

2

98

97

98

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

N = 316

Coordinators/Staff/Faculty

N1 = 30

Students/Graduates/Fellows

N2 = 286

Yes No

25

Cooperation in the Thematic Field: Erasmus Mundus – other Master/Doctorate programmes

Cooperation/Organisation of Joint Activities between EM Joint Programmes and other

Master/Doctorate Programmes (not Erasmus Mundus) in the Field of "Climate Change

and Sustainable Solutions"?

20

80

8

11

92

89

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

N = 317

Coordinators/Staff/Faculty

N1 = 30

Students/Graduates/Fellows

N2 = 287

Yes No

26

Cooperation in the Thematic Field: Erasmus Mundus – External Partners

Cooperation/Organisation of Joint Activities between Erasmus Mundus Action1 Joint

Programmes and External Partners

in the field of "Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions"

31

47

32

69

53

68

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Overall

N = 316

Coordinators/Staff/Faculty

N1 = 30

Students/Graduates/Fellows

N2 = 286

Yes No

27

Cooperation in the Thematic Field: Erasmus Mundus Attractiveness Projects

• Close relation and cooperation between similar Attractiveness Projects

• Cooperation with Erasmus Mundus Students and Alumni Association

• Stressing of link between universities and practical environment: importance of networks

• Interest in closer cooperation with Action 1 Erasmus Mundus Joint Programmes

Attractiveness Projects as “thematic cooperation”

28

General Willingness to Cooperate

N=311 respondents

29

Benefits of Cooperation in the Thematic Field

22%

19%

28%

8%

22%1%

Access to additional resources

Fostering ties between institutions in the same thematic area

Establishment of research communities/networks

Increasing student mobility

Increase career opportunities for students/graduates

Other

n = 835 answers

(Multiple answers allowed)

30

Challenges of Cooperation in the Thematic Field

21%

11%

4%

9%

7%

20%

16%

6%5% 1%

Lack of awareness of others working in the same fieldLack of motivation among coordinatorsLack of motivation among Action 3 Attractiveness Project RepresentativesLack of motivation among students/graduatesLack of motivation among external actorsLack of fundingLack of time to organise networkingLack of support from the universityI don't knowOther

n = 742 answers

(Multiple answers allowed)

31

5) Recommendations

• Course content of EMMCs

• Include a module/course on topic of Climate Change and/or Sustainable Solutions in each EMMC (regardless of the field of study)

• Invite practitioners (business, industry) for lectures, organise study trips to practitioners

• Involvement of alumni: Thesis presentations by graduates to current students

• Organisation of one Master Course called “Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions” as a joint cooperation between a number of EM programmes

• Labour market preparation: Include Practical modules/ assistance with Internships

32

Recommendations

• Organisation of activities and networking

• High potential of workshops and conferences (could be environmentally counterproductive)

• Joint Summer courses/online courses on the topic before the start of the semester

• Carbon Footprint calculation of universities

• Active engagement of EMMC alumni employed in the sector to further develop relations with external partners

• Development of concrete cooperation projects between Action 1 and Action 3

• Need of facilitator: potential role of the EACEA and the National Structures?

• Joint Website for Information Sharing, Knowledge portal: http://www.climatechangeedu.eu/

33

6) Conclusion

• The thematic field is relevant and will remain an important item on the research and activities agenda of the Erasmus Mundus Community

• High willingness to engage in thematic cooperation, but need of support. Lack of awareness, lack of time, lack of funding, organisational issues are the main organisational challenges

• Relevance of Erasmus Mundus Cluster on “Climate Change and Sustainable Solutions”: bringing together different EM actors involved in the field, to start with personal contact and dialogue on which concrete cooperation efforts can be build

34

Thank you for your attention!

natalia.spartakova@icunet.ag