Erasmus Policy of Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University including two faculties and four vocational schools which were part of Balikesir University since 1993 has been established as a seperate university with new three faculties and thirteen programs in 2015. Before the seperation of our university from Balikesir University, the members of these founding faculties have been participated in several different international exchange programs, projects and cooperation such as Erasmus+ and Mevlana.

The vision of Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University as officially stated in its strategic plan, is to achieve international excellence in education and research The key issues regarding internationalization explicitly identified in the strategic plan are: i) to increase international components in education and research activities, ii) to improve the students’ international experiences, iii) to increase international mobility of the staff, iv) to increase the number of institutional collaborations with international universities, research centers and research networks, and v) to ensure the comparability of academic and administrative procedures with international practices and also to ensure their sustainability. With this purpose in mind, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University will increase its involvement in structured and long term cooperation which will be implemented with the help of its International Relations Office, the Office of the Vice-Rector for Education, and the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research, and the Office for Sponsored Research. These units will help with the planning and coordination of all cooperation projects.

The University provides a high level of support to incoming Erasmus+ students as for all students registered in Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University. This means that orientation programmes are provided both by the University and by the individual departments, the incoming students have access to personal tutors and have the same teaching contract as their peers. The University recognizes the special needs of disabled students who can assess for all facilities. 

The Equal Opportunity Policies of the University apply not only to the selection of outgoing students but to the teaching and learning experience of incoming students. In order to have high quality in academic mobility activities, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University complies with the followings; All proposals for new partnerships are going to be approved by the relevant Faculty and Department Erasmus Coordinators and will be required to satisfy the requirements of the University's policy document on the quality control of placements, including exchanges.

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University International Relations Office identifies international cooperation policy in order to encourage institutional cooperation on issues related to education and ensure mutual recognition between countries. Interaction between local and foreign students is aimed to increase by providing various projects under the guidance of the office. Students and staff are actively encouraged to participate in exchange programmes.

University will take a role for the replacement of the incoming students from the institutions which we are actively collaboration under Erasmus and also with others that we will collaborate under LLP. International Relations Office (IRO) will assist students looking for positions and academic institutions for placement. Also, IRO will offer help to incoming students and outgoing students seeking internships and work experience placements. 

While Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University determines geographical areas, the universities from program and partner countries primarily preferred. All exchange partner proposal is planned to go through a thorough approval process at faculty and university level concerning academic match, status of institution, the nature of student support and all linguistic requirements. The departments focus on cooperation in diverse areas. Since the diversity leads to improved quality in education and research, Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University supports social, ethnic and cultural diversity in education and research.

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University supports quality and quantity studies for mobility activities in each level such as first, second and third cycles. Although first cycle students are the primary task of the Erasmus Office, the office guides to students for exchange programmes in other cycle levels. Number of mobility students are set into balanced proportions depending on the number of students of each department.

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University expects its participation in the Erasmus+ programme to impact all the five priorities as per outlined below:

1.       Increasing attainment levels to provide the graduate and researchers Europe needs: The University’s participation will help its capacity to provide international experience to its student body and it is imperative for providing financial support to students from lower income backgrounds, thereby providing them with the opportunity to build their confidence to compete on the international scene.

2.        Increasing the quality and relevance of higher education: We believe that exposure to the teaching and research practices of HEIs from different countries will contribute positively to our university’s strive for perpetual improvement. First-hand experiences gained by the mobility participants will provide acquaintance with successful innovations and practices to help in developing a greater variety of study modes and enable the development of more effective methods.

3.        Strengthening quality through mobility and cross-border co-operation: Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University promotes mobility and works to eliminate any barriers to cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including implementation of various improvements for efficient recognition of credits obtained abroad. Participation in the Programme will be a crucial ingredient in sustainable revisions and reforms for effective quality assurance.

4.        Linking higher education, research and business for excellence and regional development: Past mobility which was carried out under Balikesir University has increased the awareness levels of students and staff members regarding demands of international enterprises. Participation in the Programme will ensure the continuity of this awareness and provide additional motivation to implement changes that will lead to improved cooperation models with the business world as well as strengthening knowledge-transfer infrastructure.

5.        Improving governance and funding: Our institution’s relations with international HEIs will expand its visibility and increase research collaborations leading to development of centers of excellence, and also help to attract public and private funding through research and development projects involving its select partners. It is expected that mobilities and network memberships will help Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University study and benefit from different governance and funding mechanisms in place in Europe and elsewhere, and the University will use such shared knowledge and best practices for improvement. 

Language Policy

Language preparation is a crucial element to ensure success in mobility outcomes (staff / student satisfaction, coping with everyday challenges and pressure during the study / training period and improved exam success rates). With this purpose in mind, students are subjected to a language proficiency test. All participants are required to have a minimum required profiency level. After election period, the selected students will have orientation programme and in this programme they will take English courses.

Recognition Policy

The ECTS is applied in academic recognition. All the credits that the student earns during the mobility period and which were originally agreed on in the Learning Agreement are fully recognized as an integral part of the student's degree programe. Credit transfer is done with the same e-recognition procedure as with learning acquired elsewhere.The DS is issued to the student incl. a record of the mobility period. 

Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University ensures full academic recognition and students’ study period abroad replaces a comparable period of their studies. Academic records of the outgoing students are tracked by the International Relations Office.

“Learning Agreement” and the “Recognition Sheet” are prepared based on the course plan and approved by the Department Erasmus Coordinator before the student leaves. After completion of studies, academic records sent by accepting institutions are delivered to the relevant academic units. Recognition of the courses are done via academic board decisions in accordance with the recognition documents prepared beforehand. Two copies of these documents are prepared and sent to the Registrar’s Office and to the International Relations Office.

BANU provides the sending institution and the incoming mobile students with a Transcript of Records (title of the course unit, duration of the course unit, local grade and ECTS credits) within a month after the end of mobility