ERASMUS+

Official document:

ERASMUS CHARTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 2021-2027

Legal name (Serbian language):

Beogradska akademija poslovnih I umetničkih strukovnih studija (BAPUSS)

Legal name (English language):

Belgrade Business and Arts Academy of Applied Studies (BBAA)

Country: Serbia

City: Belgrade

web site: www.bpa.edu.rs

Erasmus Charter for Higher Education Code: RS BELGRAD19

ACRONYM: BAPUSS (BBAA)

PIC: 896965694

VAT number: 111302583

National ID/Organisation ID (OID): E10224859

Erasmus policy statement

The Belgrade Business and Arts Academy of Applied Studies (BBAA) realizes its mission and goals in accordance with recognized EU standards and values. This course is defined in its Strategy of Internalization as well as in Rule book of Mobility.Its vision is founded on the idea of a flexible and open higher education institution fostering an encouraging educational environment. Main goal is to modernize its curricula and take an active role in the development of the Business, Visual Arts and Design, Creative and IT industries.

Our institutional internationalization and modernization strategy is realized through:

  • Entering bilateral cooperation agreements with foreign institutions for joint capacity building and curricula development through KA2 projects.
  • Networking with foreign organizations and institutions and membership in relevant international professional organizations and associations.
  • Participating in EU mobility programs based on similarity of education systems.

Participating in Erasmus will help us build the European Educational Area through:

  1. Tackling skills mismatches and promoting excellence in skills development.

Our teaching methodology combines  theoretical knowledge with practical skills development  aimed at solving problems,  managing complex information, taking initiative, creative thinking and efficient communication, along with high-level digital competencies development. Collaboration between higher education, research institutions and business leads to the enhancement of students’ and teachers’ research capabilities.

  1. Building inclusive and connected higher education systems

The Academy seeks to create an inclusive and connected environment for intercultural and inter-institutional exchange for all students and staff members, based on their talents and work, not their background, thus promoting equality and non-discrimination.

  1. Ensuring higher education institutions contribute to innovation

The main goal of the Academy, the modernization of  its curricula and the development and innovation in priority sectors  (Business, Visual Arts and Design, IT and Creative industries), is realized by following new perspectives and taking action across all higher education institutions’ activities — education, research and engagement with the wider world. Through its Center for Internships and Career Development,  Center for foreign languages, Project Art Center, Center for Development, Quality and Projects, BBAA aims to connect the educational process with activities in the wider community.

  1. Supporting effective and efficient higher education systems

The ability of the Academy to deliver excellence in competencies depends on adequate human and financial resources, incentives and rewards. Our institutional leadership and effective international cooperation and resource management would benefit from good practice observed in partner institutions. Erasmus + will help BBAA develop new ideas, benchmark, co-develop and co-establish relevant programs, and evolve our students and staff into life-long learners and competent and employable citizens of the world. BBAA recognizes participation in Erasmus actions as a pathway for modernization and innovation in the education area and a strategic goal pertinent to its future growth and development. Through education based on international cooperation students can learn about common cultural heritage forming the basis of their European Citizenship. Openness to diverse cultures and the ability to work and gain knowledge in multilingual environments is necessary for helping build a highly employable, competent and socially responsible workforce and the competitiveness of the European economy.

The development of international cooperation and mobility is of great importance for the further improvement and strengthening of the general standards of education and research at the BBAA, so our institution encourages the development of international qualifications, knowledge of foreign languages and intercultural competences among our target groups, for this issue, e.g., students, teaching and non teaching staff.

The Academy will especially encourage participation in Erasmus + KA1 projects of learning mobility and KA2 projects – KA2 Partnership of Cooperation and exchanges of practices, KA2 Partnership for Excellence and KA 2 Partnership for Innovations.

KA1 Mobility programs open the space for education and training activities, while participation in KA2 Strategic partnership projects offers great possibilities for innovation and good practices.

The staff of the BBAA engaged in mobility should contribute to the internationalization and modernization of the HEI. The teachers will bring new insights to improve the course curricula, while non-teaching staff will raise the level of the organizational functioning in international activities. The teaching staff mobility would result in joint curricula and research projects. Students who participate in mobility programs are expected to engage other colleagues to participate in future projects and be true ambassadors spreading the positive mobility experience in the wider community. Particular emphasis is placed on guaranteeing non-discrimination, equality and full international participation to all vulnerable categories of students.

A good example of a practical implementation was the participation of the Department of Arts and Design (former College of Fine and Applied Arts) in the two-year KA2 Strategic partnership project “ArtNeighboryouth” as an associated partner. The aim of the project, realized from 2015 to 2017 and including partners from four countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Serbia), was the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as creating new methodologies in art education of the Youth art worker. That was a great example of civic engagement for our students where they experienced in-depth comprehension of the importance of activism in society. The project was highly rated by the evaluator, with proposal for its further continuation and development. The final publication was implemented in the curricula of the University of Limburg-Leuven (Belgium) and the BBAA’s Department of Arts and Design and successfully spread in Serbia through print publication, mass and social media, scientific meetings and educational fairs.

The impact of participation in Erasmus+ programs on our institution is primarily expected in the area of advancing the level of teaching, learning and research to an international standard through innovation of its study programs and curricula, raising the level and impact of staff academic, professional and career competences and developing culturally sensitive and inter-culturally competent graduates able to perform in international and multicultural societies. Further, from the aspect of new formed Academy, it will have great influence on non teaching staff performances through organisational improvement and overall modernization of their activities

The main strategic goals in the period 2021-2027 are aimed at promoting student and staff mobility, providing a range of mobility options, increasing participation in mobility programs, internationalization of the curriculum,  increasing the quality and quantity of international cooperation, partnerships and participation in international projects. The targets planned include:

  • Achieving 10 % of outgoing student mobility (longer stays);
  • Achieving 20 % of blended mobility;
  • Ensuring that at least 1/5 of our staff gain international experience (teaching, training, research etc.);
  • Investment in the necessary framework and tools, curriculum development and developing a strong network to cover and support the International Competence areas;
  • Internal monitoring of International mobility and cooperation; Establishing a Forum by the International Office for the discussion on quality aspects and for regular assessments of mobility participants fill-ins. In such a way the International office will ensure a clear mechanism for reporting to the BBAA administrative staff problems encountered, at the same time respecting confidentiality;
  • By 2025. the Academy should take steps to implement Automatic Mutual Recognition;
  • Taking active measures to implement requirements for digital mobility management, the EWP and the European Student Card Initiative;
  • Embracing and implementing OLS – Online Linguistic Support & LMS – Linguistic Management System;
  • Promotions of activities that enhance the active citizenship skills and competences;
  • Introduction, promotion and implementation of the Erasmus+ virtual exchange programs.