The Principal of MCAST Professor James Calleja joined eight other rectors from HEIs in Europe for  a meeting held on 17^th and 18^th June in Koszalin, Northern Poland. Rectors were updated on developments linked to the ongoing development of the EU4Dual Alliance.

Rectors also adopted an internationalisation strategy based around the offer of trans-national learning and exchange opportunities via multi-lingual offerings including micro-credentials, work-based learning mobilities, staff mobilities, short mobilities and joint degrees.

Announcing the Common Dual Model for Higher Education the Rectors’ council announced the adoption of the common dual model for higher education, a vision of education that is characterised by:

• anchoring the provision of dual HE into the policies and strategies of higher education institutions;
• practical learning taking place in the world of work, which makes up a minimum share of 20% of ECTS awarded in the course for dual masters;
• close alignment of theory and practice, assured by validating the suitability of partners from the world of work before initiating work-placement agreements;
• work-placements which are governed by bi- or tri-lateral agreements between the higher education institution, world of work partner and student;
• this practical learning, is governed by a curriculum which defines skills and competences to be achieved during the work-placement;
• recognition of learning outcomes achieved in the world of work by the HE Institutions;
• integration of practical phases in the world of work into institutional quality management systems

The agreement of the Common Dual Model for Higher Education represents for the first time a coordinated approach towards dual education in an international context, and applied at programme level – conceivably allowing any higher education programme in Europe to adopt the dual approach.

Each of the nine Rectors also presented plans to expand their provision of education that meets the criteria of this model, through:

• adaptation of existing programmes to follow the common model;
• the launch of ten new dual programmes within our institutions;
• the launch of six new, first-of-their-kind, European dual joint programmes

Rectors have also approved plans to promote the wider adoption of the model, and expand the reach of EU4Dual’s activities. The consortium plans, until the end of the year, to launch a certification programme for Dual Education, accompanied by implementation guidelines, consultancy and tutor training programmes. These will allow any institution to certify its’ learning offer against the Common Dual Model.

Rectors also agreed to open a range of new collaborating opportunities with the alliance:

• up to 6 associated partners will be invited to associate with the alliance – these partners will have the opportunity to participate in joint mobility, study and research programmes;
• around 20 partners globally will be supported in developing and strengthening their dual education systems, through participation in institutional transformation activities supported by the certification scheme;
• additional researchers, institutional leaders and decision makers will be invited to participate in our network events and share practice in particular via our annual conference on dual studies and its linked journal

Many of these activities will be transferred under the umbrella of a distinct legal entity, controlled by the members of the alliance. Earlier this year MCAST organised the first of a number of international conferences linked to the Alliance on the future of work.