Last week during the Executive Board meeting held in Girona, we discussed a proposal to innovate the format of the scientific conference, in order to reach better outcomes. We used the wonderful data collected by Telemark's University during last Euroweek which considered the scientific seminar as the least valued item last year in Norway.
We defined that there are several reasons for the lack of interest in last year's scientific seminar, the main one responding to our membership distribution, keeping in mind that some of us are not academics but rather administrative staff. Furthermore, it was recognized that it is difficult for the Euroweek organizer to create an amazing week for everyone and simultaneously generate the outcomes of the seminar.
We have decided to divide the scientific conference into two specific seminars:
- Scientific seminar. Academics can send an abstract of a maximum of 2000 words explaining a research paper that he/she is developing at the moment. The document must anticipate an empirical analysis.
The intention is to use the Euroweek platform to attract other academics interested in doing an empirical analysis from his/her own country, and then compare the results for the paper. This will add more value to the final paper.
The themes are related to the Euroweek purposes:
· Innovation in higher education from the academic perspective
· Innovation management
· Educational matters
· International research
- Administration management seminar. People involved in management and organization within the administrative aspects of universities can propose a theme of his/her interest to be held during the seminar. To do so they must send a short abstract with a maximum of 500 words. Examples:
- Management problems implementing European joint Masters
- How to improve success in European projects (IP, CD, Leonardo, ...)
- Mobility placements - Making them successful
The most voted topic will be developed during the seminar.
All the outputs of these two seminars will be published in an International On-line Journal that will be created for that purpose. We are now starting the process to make it operative this year.
This journal will demonstrate to our universities that we publish in an international journal creating Special Issues for themes we decide interesting. Naturally, with a published Special Issue it will be easier to negotiate further publication of that specific theme as a book.
This new format will improve the main aims of PRIME, such as promoting and developing cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research, facilitating cooperation between member universities, and improving the exchange of information and know-how (knowledge creation and knowledge sharing).
We really hope that you support this change and hope to receive your proposals for successful seminars.
The deadline to send your proposals is the 29th of February 2008.
We are looking forward to reading your abstract proposals.