The Interreg Aurora funded small-scale project Cross-border University Cooperation for Knowledge Sharing and Regional Development aimed to develop new cross-border education formats that combine the academic perspectives with industry needs.
The project resulted in the testing of a unique cross-border course between the project partners Hanken Svenska Handelshögskolan and Umeå universitet. A total of 24 students from diverse backgrounds from Vaasa in Finland and Umeå in Sweden completed the course. The common course platform was an open-source learning management system called Moodle at Hanken Svenska Handelshögskolan.
Study visit to Skellefteå with the students
The unique course focused on cross-border regional development with an overarching theme of green transition. Other topics included in the course were communication in organizations, the Sámi perspective, and the Torne Valley perspective.
The students have after the completed course a unique competence to work with cross-border development, as well as a more general knowledge of the programme areas conditions and challenges. They have also built a network with each other and they have got a first contact with companies, organizations, and authorities involved in the green transition.
The joint cross-border project has enhanced the understanding of regional conditions and challenges. The project has also stimulated valuable contacts and strengthened the collaboration between universities and industry in the Interreg Aurora programme area. In-person cross-border meetings have been arranged with students, universities, regional actors, companies, organisations, and authorities. By including Norwegian actors (university and students, as well as companies, authorities, and organisations) the idea is to expand the network and exchange of knowledge between all actors involved. The project partners have been in contact with Nord University in Bodø, Norway. Efforts are planned to establish common arrangements and long-term financing for continued training in cross-border development skills.
Project manager Marit Nilsson-Väre says that “based on the experiences from the project and the established contacts with Nord University, the participants are investigating the possibilities to transform course format and content to be supported by, for instance Erasmus+ as a summer school”.
Learn more about the project Cross-border University Cooperation for Knowledge Sharing and Regional Development
Photos Örjan Pettersson, Umeå Universitet
