Erasmus Multilateral Networks

All networks should bring together an appropriate range of relevant stakeholders concerned by
the theme addressed. Co-operation within networks is expected to lead to outcomes which will
have a lasting and widespread impact on higher education institutions and their environment
across Europe in the field concerned.

The following is an indicative list of the kind of issues which academic networks will tend to focus on:

• Mapping the field. This might typically involve describing, analysing, and comparing existingteaching methods, and defining and experimenting with new ones, identifying existing high quality teaching material and placing it at the disposal of the members of the network with the aid of databases.
• Activities in the field of quality assurance related to an academic field.
• Facilitating European co-operation. Assessing the state of the art in European co-operation identifying needs and obstacles and ways to overcome them. Setting up tools (the use of ECTS, new models of co-ordination, European strategies). Promoting the production of European modules.
• Defining and updating generic and sectoral competences using the method of the pilot project “Tuning Educational Structures in Europe”. Now it is up to network projects to take the Tuning results further. Networks are now expected to implement the methodology and outcomes of the Tuning project in their discipline.
• Promoting synergies between teaching and research by encouraging higher education institutions to integrate research results in their teaching and link Erasmus networks with the thematic networks funded by the Research Directorate-General of the European Commission.
• Reinforcing the link between education and society, bringing together public and private sector, scientific and professional players, thereby contributing to Europe's innovation capacity.

As a minimum, each network is expected to carry out the following operational activities:

• Establish a website and other appropriate tools to support information exchange and dissemination;
• Produce an annual report on the state of innovation in its area of activity;
• Provide the ‘players’ in Erasmus with full information about the network’s events and activities;
• Organise an annual meeting in the thematic area of the network. The meeting may alsobring together representatives of other Erasmus-supported activities in the field concerned, including notably multilateral projects and intensive programmes. It can take the form of an open seminar or conference, thereby encouraging collaboration between Erasmus-supported projects and other relevant initiatives;
• Take appropriate measures regarding the evaluation of the network's performance.

One of the organisations participating in the network project must act as the co-ordinator. However, it is expected that other network partners take the lead on implementing the different parts of the work programme. It is vital that the whole of the network be actively associated with its activities.