Welcome to EURASHE Insights bringing you information on what happened in the past month and our new projects and activities to come.
Last month @ EURASHE
EURASHE LAUNCHED THE CAMPAIGN #PHEresponse TO COVID-19
COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically shaken the global professional higher education sector creating a lot of challenges for teachers, students and institutions’ leadership.

The existing health crisis keeps on revolutionizing online learning, assessment and applications processes on a daily basis and has questioned how the applied research may be conducted in the times of uncertainty.

EURASHE in response to the situation launched a campaign ‘#PHEresponse to COVID-19′, sharing best practices from institutions, interviewing our members' leaders and launching a series of online event, to show how the PHE sector is tackling the many challenges brought by the health crisis.

Check out our interviews with:






Upcoming activities and opportunities
REGISTER NOW FOR THE SERIES OF WEBINARS "PHE@HOME Info Days"
In the framework of the recently launched campaign #PHEresponse to COVID-19, EURASHE is organising the online event "PHE@HOME Info Days" on 19-20 May 2020 on Zoom, which will consist of a series of webinar on different topics, such as Future of skills, Work-based learning, Microcredential, lesson learnt from COVID-19 and others.

The event will serve as a platform for a community discussion on the relevant issues, also it will provide an opportunity to discuss how the existing health crisis might affect the sector and what coordinated actions could be implemented in order to prevent any possible harm.

CHOOSE YOUR WEBINAR(S)!
EURASHE Update
for Members

10:00-11:15 (CEST), 19 May 2020, Zoom
Closed event, only for EURASHE members .

The webinar will address the following topics:
  • Brief overview of 2019 activities;
  • Implemented activities in January-April 2020;
  • Update on the projects;
  • COVID-19 impact on future EURASHE activities.
Discussion "PHE in the time of Coronavirus: threats and opportunities"

15:00-16:30 (CEST), 19 May 2020, Zoom
COVID-19 outbreak has dramatically shaken the global professional higher education sector creating a lot of challenges for teachers, students and institutions’ leadership.

In response to that, EURASHE is organising an online debate aiming to share the best practices from the members, understand what are the common threats for the PHE institu tions and how to see opportunities in the times of uncertainty.

The speakers of the debate will touch upon the issues of online learning, students' assessments and mobility, cooperation with the world of work and post-Coronavirus realities.


Masterclass "Future Skills and Future Universities"

13:00-14:30 (CEST), 19 May 2020, Zoom
Research on Future Skills is one of the current hot topics in education, management and organizational research. In times of global networked organizations and steadily accelerating product cycles, the model of qualification for future jobs seems debatable. Can we really prepare graduates and employees for the future by the predominant model of knowledge acquisition? Do we already have adequate concepts for competence development in higher education and work environments?

The Masterclass led by Prof. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers, one of the key learning innovation experts in Europe, will introduce the latest developments of the skills for tomorrow‘s graduates and the strategies how to achieve them.

Workshop "Smart E-quality @ Work-based Learning"


10:00-11:30 (CEST), 20 May 2020, Zoom
Placements at PHE level provide opportunities to build up new skills and knowledge both on and off the job. When they are of high quality, they promote a smoother transition from school/PHE institution to work for young people, giving them a good start to their working careers.

Quality apprenticeships/placements can also provide an attractive learning pathway for youth at risk of dropping out early from initial education. Employers also benefit as they get support to identify and train workers while adding to their productive capacity and can still form
their future employees. 

The webinar will dwell on these topics, while discussing the outcomes of different European projects focused on Work-based Learning.


Workshop "Microcredentials in Higher Education: enabling future flexible learning pathways"

13:00-14:30 (CEST), 20 May 2020, Zoom
Microcredentials, as an alternative higher-ed model have been growing for a while as a means of further enhancement of flexibility of learning and contribution to the concept of life-long learning (OECD, Education Working Paper No. 216, 2020; Dirk van Damme, 2018).

EURASHE, as a voice of professional higher education, is organising a workshop to discuss the importance of microcredentials in the disruptive times, how this model of learning can shape the whole higher education system and whether professional higher education institutions are ready to accept this new model of learning.

Our members
HOTELSCHOOL THE HAGUE STUDENT CREATES A WEBSITE TO HELP HIS COMMUNITY IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS
The Professional Higher Education community is showing a great commitment to face the challenges produced by the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

This time it was Frederik Sieler, a third-year student of EURASHE’s member Hotelschool The Hague campus Amsterdam, to take action and support his community, creating the website Van Buren Voor Buren (VBVB) and helping those who are in need of assistance.

“I’ve been studying at Hotelschool The Hague Amsterdam campus for 3 years now. During that time, I have learned to appreciate and become part of this amazing city and community. In light of the coronavirus outbreak, sitting at home and not being able to help, bothered me. Therefore I recently launched a website to connect those who are willing to help and those that are in need of support.” said Frederik, who in little time was able to gather together more than 30 volunteers to help him with his initiative.


THE POLYTECHNIC OF PORTO LAUNCHES A NEW PROGRAM TO COMBAT ISOLATION
EURASHE member, the Polytechnic of Porto, through its Office for Academic and Professional Integration (GIAP), created an initiative to tackle the rising cases of anxiety and depression due to prolonged isolation, proposing recommendations to stay active while staying at home, through online classes and suggestions for sports activities to be carried out twice a day.

Aware of the unprecedented situation, the ActivAmente program of the Polytechnic of Porto seeks to minimize and respond to mental health issues in times of COVID-19. “The program consists of the development of different tips and activities, to be performed regularly, always in the logic of mental health. The institution must respond to the needs of its community, this is a difficult period, but it is our duty to create conditions that combat isolation, prevent and help extreme cases and encourage physical activity. we are adapting to today’s reality, with the resources we have available ”, explains Paulo Santos, Pro-President of P.PORTO and promoter of this initiative.

Has your institution/association of institutions launched an initiative to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 and would like to share it with the whole PHE community? Contact us  here .
Our partners
CORONAVIRUS GLOBAL RESPONSE: EU LAUNCHES PLEDGING EFFORT
The European Union is joining forces with global partners to kick-start a pledging effort – the Coronavirus Global Response – starting on 4 May 2020.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and global health organisations have launched a joint call for action to develop fast and equitable access to safe, quality, effective and affordable diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines against coronavirus.

To raise funds in support of this endeavor, the European Union and its partners will organise a worldwide pledging marathon. Countries and organisations around the world are invited to pledge to help reach the target of €7.5 billion in initial funding.

Find out more about the effort and how to get involved   here .
DISINFORMATION: HOW TO RECOGNISE AND TACKLE COVID-19 MYTHS
The outbreak of the Coronavirus has led to disinformation that hampers efforts to contain the pandemic.From the original claim that the virus spread through bat-soup, to heated reports of EU countries fighting each other for dwindling supplies of medical equipment, these claims are everywhere.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said false claims “are spreading faster than the virus” and has already termed it an “infodemic of planetary proportions”. Major online platforms are already acting to limit their reach.

How can you recognise disinformation and how can you help stop it from spreading? What is the EU doing about it?

Find the answers   here .
ABOUT EURASHE
EURASHE  is the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education that offer professionally orientated programmes and are engaged in applied research within the Bologna cycles.
 
We represent +600 universities of applied sciences and university colleges, national and sectorial associations of higher education institutions, and other individual institutions, such as universities.  
MONTHLY INSPIRATION
STUDENTS TO DECIDE WHICH INSTITUTIONS SURVIVE COVID-19
According to the new report " New Schools of Thought: Innovative models for delivering higher education", students will have the ability to decide which higher education institutions survive the COVID-19 crisis and it won't be enough for universities to just move the learning process online.

How can universities prepare themselves to face the post-Coronavirus era?

Read the article here .