Erasmus Policy Statement of Tarsus University
Please describe the structure at your institution for the implementation and organization of European and international mobility (division of tasks, operational and communication methods). (max. 1000 characters)
Please provide the direct web link with the contact details of the international office (or equivalent) in your institution dealing with the implementation and organization of European and international mobility:
Tarsus University was formally established on May18, 2018 in Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey and it has the legal status of a state higher education institution. Tarsus University is involved in Erasmus programme since 2018-2019 academic year. TU has an International Relations Office for promoting and representing all European Union Educational Programs which includes Erasmus Unit, Project Unit, Bologna Unit and Youth Unit.
There are 2 specialists at Erasmus Unit. They all hold responsibilities for the outgoing students and each one is responsible for one specific mobility programme type: placement mobility, staff mobility and incoming mobility. Additionally, one specialist focuses on the accounting transactions.
Web link: http://erasmus.tarsus.edu.tr/
Please explain the academic credit system and the methodology used to allocate credits to the different course units followed by your students abroad. (max. 1000 characters)
In addition, please provide the direct web link where the methodology is explained: (1012)
Students who complete their study/traineeship abroad submit their transcript of records or evaluation forms to the Erasmus Unit of Tarsus University. Each department registers the proper course names and credits to the students’ transcript with original course names and credits. The Erasmus period of the student is indicated at his/her transcript and Diploma Supplement. In our University, ECTS Credit calculation is based on the “work load” which indicates the time students need to complete all learning activities required to achieve the expected learning outcomes. At the end of each semester students’ workload is measured through conducted questionnaires for each course. ECTS Coordinators measure 1500-1800 hours of workload for 60 ECTS in a year, 750-900 hours of workload for 30 ECTS for each semester. Instructors offering the courses assign a certain number of ECTS credit to each course and the academic board of the department including the ECTS coordinator reviews these credits.
Please explain if all courses taught at your institution are described in the Course Catalogue and in which languages. (max. 500 characters)
In addition, please provide the direct web link to your Course Catalogue:
The short cycle programs and the programs in which the students are not registered, are not listed in the course catalogue. The medium of instruction is Turkish in Tarsus University but in some departments, it is 30% of English. Our course catalogues are in English.
Please describe the institutional procedure for the approval and monitoring of inter-institutional agreements for study and teaching mobility and/or learning agreements in case of traineeships (work placements). (max. 1000 characters)
We are aiming to establish stronger and deeper partnership which is basically defined by the number of students, staff and the duration of their mobility by inter-institutional agreements. We also aim to ensure geographical and subject area diversity and balance of our inter-institutional agreements. We will overview all of our Bilateral Agreements and we will avoid to renew and sign inter-institutional agreements which are not going to be active enough after mutual agreement on the subject matter. If the coordinator specifies an institution for agreement, Erasmus Unit starts the legal procedure for signing the inter-institutional agreement. Learning and training agreements and recognition sheets are prepared while application documents are filled. After approval of learning and training agreement by the host institution, the recognition sheet is certified by the faculty board. At the end of the mobility period, all successful courses written on the host institution’s transcript are transferred with the original names and grades on the transcript issue by Tarsus University and DS. (1024)
Please describe your institution's language policy for preparing participants for mobility, e.g.: course providers within or outside the HEI. (max. 750 characters)
If possible, please provide the direct web link for your language policy:
During the programme, language courses will be given to all of the outgoing mobility students before their departure and a Turkish language course will be offered for the incoming students the semester begins. Language courses for the incoming and outgoing students will be provided by more established Mersin University. The incoming staff should have a minimum required language profiency level and they are encouraged to attend language courses to improve their ability to communicate.
Please describe mentoring and support arrangements for incoming mobile participants and outgoing students for study and traineeships. (max. 750 characters)
After receiving signed application documents, Erasmus Unit writes an acceptance letter, makes reservation for accommodation and also prepares documents for residence permit. Every Erasmus student has one mentor student and these mentors are required to help incoming Erasmus students whenever they need. Mentor students meet these students at the airport and pick them up to the place where they will stay. Erasmus Unit also organizes trips around Mersin and nearby places free of charge. After selecting the Erasmus outgoing study and traineeship students, Erasmus Unit organizes an orientation program for these students about their Erasmus period, the steps they will follow and meetings with the previous outgoing Erasmus students. All courses are shown at DS and ToR documents. (778)
Please describe your institution's language support for incoming students and staff with a minimum of 2-month mobility period. (max. 500 characters)
If possible, please provide the direct web link for your language policy:
Tarsus University, in cooperation with Mersin University, organizes Turkish language courses for pre-school and semester students free of charge for mobility and education students .At the end of each semester, all successful participants get language certificate who are awarded with 5 ECTS credits. All incoming staff can attend these courses during their stay. Turkish language courses are given 2 days, 6 hours per week. Language courses for the incoming and outgoing students will be provided by Mersin University.
Regarding the above two Charter principles, please describe the mechanisms your institution has in place to recognise mobility achievements for study and traineeships in enterprises. (max. 750 characters)
In addition, please provide the direct web link for this recognition procedure:
Learning agreement and recognition sheet are prepared while application documents are filled both for training and study mobility. After approval of the learning agreement by the host institution, the recognition sheet is certified by the faculty board. At the end of the mobility period, all successful courses written on the host institution’s transcripts are transferred to the Tarsus University ToR with original names, grades and credits. This information is also specified at DS.
Erasmus traineeship students submit the Evaluation Form after the mobility period. The related department transfers traineeship period to the ToR as a course approved by the faculty board before mobility. The student gets 5 ECTS for the training and it is specified at ToR and DS.
Please describe your institution's measures to support, to promote and to recognise staff mobility. (max. 750 characters)
Staff shares their experiences with the other academics and/or administrative staff after the mobility. These experiences are used for the personal and professional development. All these experiences awarded for staff's academic and administrative progress. Before mobility, academic and administrative counseling is given to the mobility staff. Staff can also get language support. After the mobility, the academic staff is required to submit a report. They should use the mobility for social and professional career development.
Please describe your institutional measures to support, promote and recognise the participation of your own institution’s staff and students in European and international cooperation projects under the Programme. (max. 750 characters)
We announced the international and national grant schemes through our website and written documents to our staff and students. We are arranging project cycle management trainings executed by our certified instructors periodically once a year or upon request any time during the year. These trainings are held for our academic and administrative staff. We give necessary support also during the preparation and application stages and try to answer questions during project’s implementation through our Project Coordination Unit. As Tarsus University we have applied to take part in Technopark Management at Mersin Technology Development Area. Thus, we are represented in the board of directors in Mersin Technology Development Zones as well.
Our Technopark and Technology Transfer Offices give service to our staff for research development and industrial applications of their intellectual properties. Second cycle, third cycle students and academic staff may get financial support for their projects via our Scientific Research Center.
Please describe your institution's international (EU and non-EU) strategy. In your description please explain a) how you choose your partners, b) in which geographical area(s) and c) the most important objectives and target groups of your mobility activities (with regard to staff and students in first, second and third cycles, including study and training, and short cycles). If applicable, also explain how your institution participates in the development of double/multiple/joint degrees. (max. 5000 characters)
The main strategy of Tarsus University is to become one of the top leading Universities in the world in teaching and research by forming and developing collaborations with international platforms of science and technology. In this regard, international and European cooperation plays an important role in the strategic development of Tarsus University. Educational and research programs are designed to meet the needs of participating and non-participating countries with the developed international networks.
In order to establish a partnership, Tarsus University selects the partner universities according to their academic performance, common research and teaching interests, language ability, current faculty member collaborations and technical quality.Tarsus University targets to increase the number and quality of international agreements and therefore aims to cooperate with universities from all over the world in accordance with its mission, vision and requirements of the Bologna Process. Tarsus University will increase its international visibility to reinforce its reputation and attract successful international students. Tarsus University encourages the students at all cycles to go abroad for study or traineeship. Necessary measures are taken to attract the appropriate number and the correct profile of students/staff. Objective methodology and the criteria are set to guarantee a transparent selection process based on equal opportunities as well as standards agreed by the partners. Practical arrangements for the incoming and outgoing students and staff such as administrative support, housing facilities, languages courses, support for visa/ residence permit, etc will be arranged and, if necessary, improved.
If applicable, please describe your institution's strategy for the organisation and implementation of international (EU and non-EU) cooperation projects in teaching and training in relation to projects implemented under the Programme.
Our institution’s strategy for implementation is to give full support to our staff in terms of project development. Tarsus University aims to play a crucial role in increasing innovation capacity of the region it is located and building bridges between academia and industry. Tarsus University advises key stakeholders on how to increase innovation and R&D level of industry, advising SMEs on research, innovation management, new investments and strengthening ties between universities and businesses. For this purpose, Tarsus University organizes university-industry cooperation activities such as information days, seminars, trainings and sector-specific University-Industry matching. It organizes project exhibitions, competitions and brokerage events that enable local and national entrepreneurs to develop ideas and transform them into tangible business prospects. It brings together academicians and SMEs to facilitate joint activities such as trouble shooting, contracted research, joint R&D projects and consultancy.
The decision to establish an Agricultural and Food Technology Development Zone in our region has been approved. Tarsus university will take part in Mersin Agricultural Food Technopark as a partner in the Management Board and will be represented in the board of directors.
Tarsus University announces the international and national grant schemes through our website or by written document to our staff and students. Tarsus University arranges project cycle management trainings, which are open to our academic and administrative staff as well as to interested groups from our region, executed by our certified instructors periodically once a year or upon request any time during the year.
Tarsus University supports other institutions in our region by developing partnerships in social and scientific projects. As a result of this cooperation, our staff and students can gain experience through this process and can develop their own projects more efficiently.
Please explain the expected impact of your participation in the Programme on the modernisation of your institution (for each of the 5 priorities of the Modernisation Agenda*) in terms of the policy objectives you intend to achieve. (max. 3000 characters)
Tarsus University puts great emphasis on increasing the number of well-educated graduates with high quality of education who can easily find jobs.
Tarsus University updates its curricula in cooperation with employers, labor market institutions' representatives and graduates according to the needs of the developing industrial market.
Tarsus University also aims to create industry-relevant graduate programs in order to meet the requirements of the knowledge -intensive labor market and SMEs. Internal and external stakeholder surveys are used to rearrange our teaching methods.
All agreements, application and selection procedures are announced on the web site and to the board of all departments. The selection of students and staff and allocation of grants are made in an objective, transparent, coherent and documented way. Tarsus University is against and disputes all types of discrimination and provides equal access and opportunities to the mobile participants at all levels.
Tarsus University is a state university and depends on the state funding, but it also endeavors to diversify funding sources to achieve financial sustainability.The second and third stage students and the academic staff can submit their projects through the Scientific Research Center and the Circulation Capital Directorate for financial support.
These projects will in turn support the required funding and also support the necessary infrastructure, human resources and equipment for the university. These resources are used to improve the quality of education to make Tarsus University one of the pioneering education hubs in the region.
