7th Erasmus+ International Staff Week hosted at the Open University of Cyprus

The Mobility Office of the Open University of Cyprus (OUC) has organized a successful Erasmus+ International Staff Week between 23 and 27 May 2022, with the aim of expanding cooperation with foreign universities, and to exchange ideas, know-how and best practices between faculty and staff of OUC and the incoming participants. Eighteen (18) members of academic and administrative staff of seventeen (17) foreign Universities from eleven (11) countries (Croatia, Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Romania) participated in the Staff Week, which was organized in the framework of the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme. All mobilities by third countries, i.e. Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, were financed by OUC under the Erasmus+ International Mobility action.

The Training Week included presentations by OUC Faculty members concerning the University’s educational methodology and academic support provided to OUC students. OUC presented its expertise on Technology Enhanced Learning, and OUC’s State-of-the-art eLearning Platform. Other topics covered during the Erasmus+ Staff Training Week included: Management, training and supporting Employees, Student Records, Support and Welfare, Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services, Marketing and Student Recruitment, and Cooperation in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme. A lot of interesting workshop were included in the programme of the Staff Week such as a Team Building Workshop, and a Walking Visual Literacy Workshop in old Nicosia.The Walking Visual Literacy Workshop on Power in old Nicosia, by the Green Line, was held by Associate Professor Vayia Karaiskou, and engaged the participants into thinking how visuals in urban space shape our perception of events, influence our affective state and channel our anticipations for the present as well as for the future. During the workshop participants explored our visuality and challenged visual and conceptual stereotypes.

The Staff Week also included various cultural activities so that participants could learn about the history and culture of Cyprus.

The organization of successful Erasmus+ International Staff Weeks at the Open University of Cyprus, with the wide participation of staff of foreign Universities, contributes significantly to the development of student and staff mobility activities and expands the horizons for cooperation and communication with foreign universities.