Interview with Dr Małgorzata Dowlaszewicz about the Arqus Joint Programmes

Dr Małgorzata Dowlaszewicz works at the Department of Dutch Studies in the Faculty of Letters of the University of Wroclaw (UWr). She is representative of this university in the Arqus European University Alliance, specifically contributing to Arqus Learning Pathways. During the interview, she elaborated on Arqus Joint Programmes, which are collaborative academic initiatives developed by the Alliance’s members. We hope you find the interview enlightening!

What are the Arqus Joint Programmes?

Joint Programmes are International Joint Studies, a term that covers a wide range of different ways of creating study programmes involving universities from different countries. Participation can take many forms, but two elements are key – the joint design of the programme and the participation of students or staff from all participating universities.

The Arqus Alliance plans to establish 3 undergraduate and 3 postgraduate programmes in the coming years. Each programme should involve at least 2 Arqus partner universities, but priority will be given to consortia of as many universities as possible. Universities will work together to design the programme, develop the learning outcomes and determine the type of degree. This may be a joint diploma, a diploma with a joint supplement, a double diploma or other solutions. For a programme to have a truly international dimension, it must also include an element of student mobility and provide opportunities for academic staff mobility. In short, such joint degrees mean that students from the different universities cooperating within Arqus will follow the same programme of study. Arqus has already published calls for the following joint programmes:

• Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in International Cybersecurity and Cyberintelligence (Deadline for applications: 15^th March 2024).
• Second edition of the Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies (Application deadline: 15^th March 2024).

Is UWr involved in any Arqus joint programmes?

There are currently three joint programmes within the Alliance. The Multiple Master in Translation was launched in the first phase of the Arqus Alliance, and this academic year the Institute of Romance Studies at the University of Wroclaw joined it. The programme operates on the basis of a double degree and includes a semester at a partner university as part of the Erasmus+ mobility programme.

Can any field be studied as an international joint degree?

There are no subject restrictions, but caution should be exercised in the case of programmes that lead to a professional qualification (e.g. courses or specialisations in teaching). Restrictions on the design of the curriculum of such programmes may prevent the development of content and subjects that are accepted by all partners and meet professional requirements in Poland.

I have an idea for a joint programme, so how do I go about it?

In a nutshell, I can say that planning should start with three elements. The first is to come up with an idea for a programme – it could be a completely new programme, or it could be an extension or refinement of an existing programme. The second element is to find a partner. Arqus Communities of Practice are helpful here. If you are a member of such a community, it will be easy to find partners who offer courses in a similar area. Otherwise, you can contact the coordinators at each university, or look for people close to your interests on the Padlet dedicated to this topic.

The third element is an administrative one – on the one hand, the support of your superiors (it is worth discussing the idea with the Director or Head, and then with the Dean), and on the other hand, finding the people responsible for the administrative elements. At our university, these are mainly the Teaching Department and the International Cooperation Office, but the Deans’ Offices also play a key role.

What is the path from idea to implementation?

The path is quite complex and must involve two pillars – the content pillar and the administrative pillar. The content of the subjects and the learning outcomes will be agreed upon with the foreign partners, but it is also worth seeking advice from the Teaching Department about the requirements of such a programme. In some cases, for example, the programme may have exemptions for subjects such as physical education or occupational health and safety. In designing the curriculum content, it is certainly important to take into account the strengths of each partner and to build on them so that the subjects are prepared and delivered by the universities that are best equipped to deliver them. It is worth considering in advance which subjects we have the right staff to teach (usually in English) and where we would like to complement our programme. This may be the specialisation of colleagues from the partner university that we lack, but also equipment – the student may be able to benefit from other laboratories, programmes, etc., thanks to completing part of the programme abroad.

The administrative pillar is the preparation of the agreement, but also the arrangements for the entry of foreign students into our USOS system, the entry of our students into the systems of the partner universities, the development of a model diploma, and much more.

Where can I find out more about the Joint Programmes?

The best way is to sign up for the Arqus Joint Programme Staff Training that will take place online on 27^th, 28^th February and 1^st March 2024, where we will tell you all about it. You are also welcome to contact me and I will be happy to suggest concrete steps to take and with whom at our university to arrange administrative and programme details.

In addition, Arqus has just published the call for implementation of joint programmes for all academics interested in developing a Joint Master’s or a Joint Bachelor’s programme.

Short bio:

Dr Małgorzata Dowlaszewicz studied Dutch and German at the University of Wroclaw and Dutch literature at the University of Amsterdam. From 2002 to 2004 she was a teaching fellow at the Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. Since 2009 she has been working at the Department of Old Dutch Literature at the University of Wroclaw. In 2012 she was awarded a PhD in Humanities for her dissertation ‘The Devil in Legend. The representation of the anthropomorphic devil in late medieval Dutch literature’. Since 2017, she has been the coordinator of the international programme ‘Dutch language, literature and culture in a Central European context’.  Dr Dowlaszewicz’s research interests focus on medieval Dutch vernacular epic and the contemporary reception of Dutch culture and literature.

She has participated in a number of research projects, including Beatrijs Internationaal (2009-2012) and CODL: Het is niet onopgemerkt gebleven. An International Network Studying the Circulation of Dutch Literature (2012-2015), and from 2021 to 2022 she led the project DLIT: Dutch Literature in Translation together with Prof. Herbert van Uffelen of the University of Vienna.

Interview by Agata Mitek, Arqus Communications Officer at the University of Wroclaw.

Photo by Dominika Hull-Bruska.