The overall aim of the Curriculum Enhancement Activities is to enhance local academic offering at partner universities to ensure that students develop global and forward-looking generic competences through the incorporation of flexible and innovative learning opportunities, such as mobility windows. A call for nine pilot projects was launched for the implementation of mobility windows based on the “step by step recommendations” as prepared within Arqus I. The aim of these structured mobility options is to reduce mobility barriers, increase the visibility of mobility options and provide a complementary academic offering. In addition, existing mobility window partnerships can also form the basis for further joint programme developments. The The Working Group 6 team team offered continuous guidance for the academics implementing the activities, whereas the additional personnel effort was supported via a lump sum per mobility window project.
Most of the Curriculum Enhancement Activities have been implemented by teachers from different universities working together, which inevitably has enhanced cooperation and promotion of good practices amongst partners. These activities have also responded to inclusiveness, since students from very different backgrounds have been able to cooperate and work together.
Where appropriate, the use of online collaboration has also supported the objectives of the Green Erasmus initiative by enabling international experiences without the need for physical travel, thus helping to reduce CO₂ emissions. Although physical mobility will always happen, the possibility offered by the innovative pedagogical methodologies may result in the fact that some students deciding not to travel or to travel less and still get a – albeit virtual – international experience.
Approximately 1,200 students should benefit from the programmes incorporating flexibilisation mechanisms into the curriculum. At least 50 academic staff members will benefit from this activity, because of their involvement in preparing and promoting the mobility windows, summer/winter schools and joint modules and courses. Should they invite more participating colleagues, the number could grow to one hundred.