Purpose
The overall goal of the CARE project is to review and develop courses and review curriculum in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical engineering, and the Institute of Energy Technology(IET) at CUET with the close collaboration of Renewable Energy at UiA. It will allow the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Norway and Bangladesh through student and staff mobility. It will build the capacity to produce graduates with independent, global insight, interdisciplinary expertise, competence in renewable energy, and intercultural expertise.
From a long-term perspective, it is expected to contribute to higher education and the energy sector in Bangladesh, from a fossil fuel-based sector to Renewable Energy. On UiA's side, it is expected that renewable energy in Bangladesh and its impact on climate change will provide new education and sustainable research dimensions that can improve the quality and internationalization of the existing master programme in Renewable Energy.
Project description
Student exchange through CARE
There will be a total of thirty five students exchange within the CARE project.
Twenty-five students from Bangladesh to Norway.
Ten students will travel to Bangladesh from Norway.
Impact for students
- The CARE project will involve transformative teaching methodology and updated resources in renewable energy to produce graduates who are not only experts in their subject domains but also have critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, work ethics, and social responsibility skills.
- Improve the quality of the master thesis research through joint-supervision.
- Increase the employability of graduate students.
Staff exchange through CARE
Staff from both universities will participate in face-to-face teaching of select courses under the CARE project. Faculty from UiA will travel to CUET and vice-versa.
There will be a total of ten staff travel from Global South to Norway.
There will be total of ten staff travel will travel from UiA to CUET.
- The CARE project will create a partnership that will invigorate transformative pedagogy into target programmes while enabling staff mobility within the partnership. It will allow taking advantage of a wide range of expertise within the teaching staff to face global challenges in the renewable energy sector.
- The integration of renewable energy with climate-related issues will enhance quality and relevance in the study programmes involved.
- The CARE Project will develop strong international profiles on climate change, rural electrification, socio-economic concern. UiA staff will be benefited by knowing those concerns related to Bangladesh. Moreover, it can be implemented in their teaching, which creates the opportunity to involve Norwegian industries in Bangladesh.
Curriculum review and development
The main goal of "CARE" is to review, develop and implement renewable energy-related courses and curricula through student and staff mobility, workshops, conduct internationalization of study programmes, and to promote transformative teaching in the higher education system.
Key activities
- Four master's study programmes (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and IET at CUET and Renewable energy at UiA) will jointly review transformative pedagogy and secure access and inclusion for a larger target group.
- Web-based, digital, and video content for the existing master programmes at UiA and CUET.
- Ten (8 reviewed and 2 new) transferable courses (5 at UiA and 5 at CUET) across the participating institutions adopted/adapted from/for the candidate programmes.
The quality and internationalization of academic programmes at both institutions are expected to increase.
UiA will contribute to increasing the quality of academic courses and programmes at CUET. Also, the international environment at UiA can serve as a model to be used at CUET. Moreover, CUET will help UiA build its capacity in socio-economic impact, capacity building for many stakeholders in the energy sector, climate vulnerability, rural electrification, and adaptation skills in Renewable Energy in Bangladesh. It will allow UiA to consider new education and sustainable research challenges that can improve the quality and internationalization of the existing master programme in Renewable Energy.
Full degree master’s Scholarship through CARE
In addition to the thirty-five exchange students mobility, there will be six full degree master's students from the partner university in the CARE project.
Student recruitment
'Full degree master students' will be composed of elaboration and launching of calls for students moving to Norway. The calls should be open for at least five months, and they will require distribution/advertisement among departments and a public presentation at CUET for interested candidates. The calls will occur in March 2023 (3 students), March 2024 (3 students) to Norway will be carried out by UiA with the help of CUET. This ensures transparency in the process according to Norwegian standards. The selection will occur every year in April-May 2023 and April-May 2024.
During the selection, the following requirement should be considered:
- Gender balance
- Students without a previous master's degree and from underrepresented and underprivileged groups should be prioritized
- English language skills
- UiA regulations for admission
- The final step of the "Selection process" will be made at CUET by individual interviews carried out by CUET and UiA project coordinators. A group (three students) of full degree master's students will join UiA in the August 2023 semester, and another group (three students) will join in August 2024.
Admission procedures The International Education Office (IEO) provides administrative support on all matters relating to the admission of international students. The IEO will liaise closely with the project coordinators and their teams to ensure that the first cohort of students in the project follows up closely and follows established procedures.
The IEO is responsible for registering partner agreements and students and offers support and guidance about visa applications and housing. The IEO also makes sure that students receive appropriate information.
All incoming students to UiA will be guaranteed student housing and secured accommodation at an affordable price. All students will be invited to information meetings and social activities and other international students and fellow students. The Office for Students with Disabilities and the Resource Centre offers counsel for students with special needs or other needs.
Results
The measurable outcomes of the CARE project include i) Thirty-five (35) students and twenty (20) staff mobilities, ii) Eight(8) reviewed courses, and two(2) new courses developed to ensure innovation and quality improvement, iii) Twenty (20) faculty members will be trained in advanced transformative pedagogy, iv) Joint supervision of master's theses and strengthened professional relationships and research activities between UiA and CUET. v) Gender balance in engineering education from the candidate study programmes, vi) Work placement at CUET ensures the integration of theory and practical training.
