NEOLAiA

The university has been part of the European University Alliance NEOLAiA for almost two years - together with eight other European universities. There are also more and more offers for employees that enable mobility and appointments abroad via NEOLAiA. A NEOLAiA update in the uni.intern interview with Professor Dr Michaela Vogt, Vice Rector for International Affairs, Diversity and Society. 

NEOLAiA has been running for almost two years. What exciting things are currently happening? 
It's almost half-time in the first funding phase. And NEOLAiA is increasingly turning from a project into a joint movement. Students, teaching staff, researchers and employees can now actively participate in a wide range of programmes and gain international experience. The visibility of NEOLAiA on our campus is increasing and the alliance is becoming part of our identity as a university. 

A few examples: Looking back a little, I am particularly pleased that students from four NEOLAiA universities were also guests at our summer German courses in Bielefeld. Or that a large part of the ZAB team recently travelled to our Swedish partner university Örebro to exchange ideas with experts on inclusion topics. More and more researchers from Bielefeld University are also participating in NEOLAiA's Research Hub, taking advantage of the opportunity to network with other researchers on their topics in a low-threshold and effective way. 

We also present the Alliance's progress at international trade fairs such as the European Association for International Education (EAIE) in Gothenburg and at formats such as the Innovation Festival here on campus in September. The first so-called Focus Academy under Bielefeld management is just around the corner. 

Focus Academy - what is it? 
A Focus Academy is a special international teaching format. It is financially supported by Erasmus+ funds as a variant of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIPs). Such a course group with teaching staff and students from different European universities works together digitally and also meets in person for a week. Professor Dr Sabrina Backs and Dr Markus Günther from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics are offering such a Focus Academy on the topic of "Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship" this winter semester and have invited many NEOLAiA students and teaching staff to attend. As we work closely together in our alliance, we are able to attract interested lecturers, students and teaching staff from our NEOLAiA partners for such formats at a low threshold. The Department of Studies and Teaching and the International Office make a significant contribution to the conception, organisation and implementation of these international formats. 

That was an example from the area of study and teaching. What does NEOLAiA offer employees in administration? 
Here, too, there are many positive developments that I am really pleased about and that give me the feeling that NEOLAiA is also leading to an international "boost" in our administration! A very recent example: under the leadership of colleagues from our health management team in Bielefeld, the NEOLAiA network "HR Health" began its work in September. This so-called Staff Network - a network of administrative colleagues for administrative colleagues within the Alliance - works at the interface between HR and health management. The newly established network is focussing on how well-being can be improved at all NEOLAiA locations. It looks for good examples and analyses interfaces where we can learn from each other as Alliance partners. The colleagues in this network are also initiating the first NEOLAiA Staff Week next year, which will take place here in Bielefeld. Bielefeld colleagues from the administration also took part in Staff Weeks organised by our partners or got to know the equivalents of their area of work at other NEOLAiA locations through job shadowing formats. More and more employees are now displaying an interest in such developments and developing their own ideas. Of course I'm very pleased about that! 

Staff Week and Job Shadowing - what are they and how can employees take part? 
Staff Weeks are funded by the European Union's Staff Mobility programme for university staff. The programme facilitates stays abroad for knowledge exchange and further training. Colleagues can apply before each semester. These Staff Weeks are now being systematically developed within NEOLAiA. It is worth taking a regular look at the NEOLAiA European website. 

Job shadowing, on the other hand, refers to specific educational ambitions of individual employees. They then look for a suitable counterpart at one of the NEOLAiA partner universities. Funding via Erasmus+ funds is generally possible. The colleagues in the International Office provide advice and networking. As Vice Rector, I am deeply convinced that an internationally experienced and professionalised administration, which is also keen to engage in European exchange, is the crucial backbone of our internationalisation efforts at the university! 

Keyword information: Where do employees find out more about NEOLAiA? 
The Communication Office publicises the offers on various university information channels. The NEOLAiA website for Bielefeld summarises news about NEOLAiA with a focus on Bielefeld. Anyone who is interested can obtain comprehensive information, including via uni.intern, the university displays and the university's social media channels. There is also an English-language newsletter that appears regularly and, of course, the Alliance's European website. If you are interested in NEOLAiA, you can find out more and get involved - initiative and your own ideas are welcome. The e-mail address neolaia@uni-bielefeld.de is another good contact point for this.