The MEM project: experiences, challenges and outcomes of an international double master-level degree

[EN] Educating the workforce of the future to perform adeptly in the global environment as well as to surmount cross cultural boundaries is of a paramount necessity in today’s technologically advanced and complex settings. This environment has led institutions of higher education to seek international collaborations to face these challenges. Building on experiences and successes gained from a nearly decade long project entitled UMANE that was jointly supported by both the US Department of Education and the EU for undergraduate double/triple Bachelor’s degrees, this paper reports on an extension of the earlier partnership, to include a graduate level partnership that offers a double master degree between New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and University of Parma (UNIPR) that was put in place in 2015. In this work, we present the developed framework of this international cooperation, report on its challenges, and share our experiences. Specifically, the framework of the agreement establishes guidelines and course of study leading to double master degrees in the area of Engineering Management, one from NJIT and another from Parma University. Students in this program, usually, start their studies in Italy, attending the classes at their home Institution and then move to Newark, New Jersey, during the spring/second semester (6 months) of their first year, to attend NJIT classes. At the end of their studies, students will be awarded two master’s degrees in Engineering Management from the partnering universities.http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/HEAD/HEAD18Montanari, R.; Malek, LA.; Andrei, P.; Ferretti, G.; Valenti, S.; Mancinelli, LM.; Bernazzoli, A.... (2018). The MEM project: experiences, challenges and outcomes of an international double master-level degree. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1125-1133. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD18.2018.8159OCS1125113

Handbook for Strategic City-University co-operation

Worldwide, there is a growing recognition that strategic partnering between cities and universities can bring substantial benefits for both sides. The big question is how to organize such partnerships successfully. This handbook offers insights, best practices and advice for leaders in cities and universities that want to go beyond “ad hoc” projects and take the next step towards a strategic and sustainable partnership. The handbook identifies promising avenues, but also barriers and pitfalls and how to avoid them. Illustrated by a rich variety of examples from European cities, the handbook provides concrete advice on the various stages of strategic city-university collaboration. This handbook intends to provide inspiring practices and guidance to develop strategic interaction between city and university, considering the complex and layered nature of both. The focus lies on the more strategic, transformational types of collaborations, that are more complex