This project aims to improve the impact of mobility experiences for students by providing a holistic approach to online mobility support. DIGIPASS seeks to complement current projects, such as Erasmus without Paper, European Student Card, Online Learning Agreement and Erasmus App, by focusing on the soft skills required for, and gained through, a successful mobility experience. There is a clear need for improving online support in areas such as career guidance, intercultural communication and mental well-being while abroad, as many students report that the current level of guidance is insufficient to help them realise the full potential learning benefits of their mobility.
In response to this need, the project will create a modular Training Programme to support the entire mobility lifecycle, OERs and ICT Tools to support students whilst abroad, a Toolkit for staff who support students on their mobility journey and a Handbook and Framework for policymakers. HEIs will then be able to use the DIGIPASS outputs to enhance their own existing support systems and help embrace their students’ digital skills.
Six universities will take part in the project – University of Edinburgh, University of Amsterdam, University College Dublin, University of Granada, University of Pavia and the Jagiellonian University of Krakow.
The project will deliver the following key objectives:
• A Training Programme which includes modular content covering all aspects of the student mobility lifecycle.
• A suite of ICT Tools and OERs for supporting student mobility taking into consideration the different context of the partner institutions.
• A Toolkit for Staff including a webinar series aimed at all staff who support student mobility.
• Formal validation and certification for each individual participant on successful completion of the virtual programme.
• A Handbook and Framework for policymakers which provides a blueprint for others looking to replicate elements of the Training Programme and contains a compilation of the training materials with a summary of the research findings and recommendations.
• Offer opportunities for Widening Participation and Special Needs students to engage with mobility through additional customised support. This project will offer specific support to 360 students (60 per partner) to engage in a mobility experience.
• Raise awareness of the importance of equipping students with digital and media literacy skills, and to enhance their employability prospects through reflective learning from their mobility experience, within the participating universities, their networks (including U21 and the Coimbra Group) and beyond.
The project outputs will be shared with the wider higher education community and public through the following events: a Training Programme Design and ICT Tools event (hosted by UGR), a Toolkit for Staff event (hosted UvA), a Handbook and Framework event for policymakers (hosted by UoE in Brussels) and a Final dissemination event (hosted by JU). Additionally, there will be three international staff weeks at which participants will develop skills for effectively supporting the student mobility lifecycle and help to further inform and develop the DIGIPASS project results.
The project will directly impact 1,800 student participants (300 per institution) and 60 (10 per institution) local stakeholders, including minority groups, policymakers and other HEIs. The portfolio of Multiplier events will attract 230 local participants and 35 international participants who will be encouraged to join the project’s ‘Community of Practice’ which will help practitioners to adopt, modify and embed the project results, tools and resources in their own institutions.
The primary impact for the student participants will come in the form of improved online mobility support through the development of ICT tools and OERs for uniquely supporting the complete mobility lifecycle. Staff participants involved in the learning, teaching and training activities will develop and enhance their ability to support the mobility lifecycle as well as receive guidance on best practice. The project will also impact a variety of entities and individuals engaging in cross-cultural activities, especially those organisations that send students, staff and/or members abroad, as they will also be able to access and utilise the DIGIPASS ICT tools and OERs. These will represent a diverse cohort of educational organisations, minority groups, local authorities, NGOs, professionals, SMEs, and women and youth organizations.