The Kick-off Meeting (KoM) for the Erasmus+ICM Key Action 171, to and from non-European countries, was held on October 9th. The meeting formally launched activities with the University of Siena’s partner universities for the 2025-2028 three-year period.
The Meeting took place in the Rectorate’s Council Hall and simultaneously online, recording the presence of approximately forty participants, including representatives from partner universities located in the following countries: Bhutan, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mozambique, Palestine, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Proceedings were opened by professor Alessandra Viviani, Erasmus Institutional Coordinator. Academic contacts then took the floor: professors Stefano Bartolini, Gianni Bianchini, Pier Lorenzo Fantozzi, Matteo Gerlini, Nadia Marchettini, Fabio Mugnaini and Riccardo Salvini.
The University of Siena has participated in this Erasmus+ Programme Action since 2015 and, over time, it has fostered the development of significant international collaborations, rich in success stories.
The objective of the meeting was twofold. Firstly, it offered the opportunity to inaugurate the activities that will be implemented during the Project, namely the international mobility of Learners (for study or traineeship) and Staff (for training or teaching) between the University of Siena and the partner universities. Furthermore, it served to describe the operating procedures for a correct and effective management of the mobility flows. Technical information and details were therefore provided regarding compliance with contractual obligations and the fundamental principles of the Project, such as European values and the criteria of transparency and inclusion.
The objectives were achieved. Participants had the opportunity to exchange views in a collaborative climate and a truly international and heterogeneous context. This result is particularly noteworthy, considering the current geopolitical situation and the difficulties some entities face even in connecting remotely.
The University will therefore host students and staff within the Project framework in the coming months, and selection notices will be issued for outgoing mobility to the universities involved.