Micro-GEAR

🎄 Micro-GEAR wishes you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a wonderful holiday season! 🎊

🔹Articles regarding Micro-GEAR project were published at CONNECT Online magazine and EaPConnect website. 🔹CONNECT is the magazine from the GÉANT community; highlighting the activities of Europe's leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for Research and Education. Link to both articles are provided below: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dugtxmPD 👉 https://lnkd.in/dMzi6UmA

📢 On the 17th of December the European Commission announced the results of the Horizon Europe WIDERA TALENTS Call for Proposals. The FORGE-AI proposal received 14,5 points out of 15 and invited for Grant Agreement preparation! In total, 117 proposals were submitted to this Call, FORGE-AI took place 7 in this list. 🔹 GTU, the coordinator of Micro-GEAR will also coordinate FORGE-AI. The project budget of 2,7 M Euro will allow the project to run for 3 years starting from May 01, 2025. The project will develop and deliver a comprehensive training programme in the field of innovation targeting young researchers, research managers and innovators. 🔹 The programme design will incorporate the principles of micro-credentialing resulting from the Micro-GEAR activities. Upon the programme's completion, 25 selected participants will spend up to one year on secondments in leading European research and innovation organizations. Moreover, Armenia is represented in the FORGE-AI consortium by the research foundation YerevaNN and will benefit from the project as well. 🔹Congratulations to the FORGE-AI team!

🔹 Georgian partners of Micro-GEAR project held the online meeting to discuss the recommendations for introducing micro-credentials in Georgia’s higher education system, prepared by the Qualifications Development Office of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement on December 11.

🔹 The Management Board Meeting for the Micro-GEAR Project was held at the University of Georgia in Tbilisi. The meeting focused on outlining future actions to ensure the successful implementation and operation of the project. 🔹 Key discussions revolved around strategic planning, collaborative efforts, and next steps to advance the adoption of Micro-credentials in the South Caucasus. The meeting emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation among regional and European partners to achieve the project’s goals effectively. 🔹 This productive session reaffirmed the commitment to fostering innovation and progress in education and workforce development across the region and highlighted the value of continuous collaboration among stakeholders. 

🔹 The Micro-GEAR Project workshop was held at the University of Georgia in Tbilisi, providing a pivotal platform for discussing the Status Quo and developing a roadmap for Micro-credentials in the South Caucasus region. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from Georgia, Armenia, and European partners to align strategic goals and explore actionable steps toward the implementation of Micro-credentials in the region. Representatives of 16 institutions from 5 countries were involved in the study visit. 🔹 The workshop featured presentations, discussions, and roundtables on topics such as: The current status and challenges of Micro-credentials in the region, Case studies from EU countries, Engagement strategies for stakeholders in Micro-credential development, Road mapping short-term and long-term goals for Micro-credential implementation. The presentations highlighted policies and best practices from EU member states, enabling participants to identify principles that align with the specific needs of Georgia and Armenia. 🔹 As a key outcome, the workshop advanced regional dialogue on aligning educational programs with workforce needs through Micro-credentials. Collaboration among stakeholders is set to continue, with the aim of fostering innovation and competitiveness in the region’s education and labor sectors. In-depth group discussions helped outline actionable steps, resource allocation, and responsibilities for drafting national roadmaps and white papers. 🔹 The workshop marked a significant step toward shaping the future of Micro-credentials in the South Caucasus region.

🔹 The management board meeting was held at the Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence CIMEA office for the Micro-GEAR Project. This gathering played a crucial role in aligning the project’s goals and discussing the strategic implementation of the findings from the recent study visit. With a clear focus on the future, the meeting set the stage for actionable plans and collaborative efforts aimed at advancing the adoption of Micro-credentials in the South Caucasus region. 🔹 The meeting also highlighted the need for continuous collaboration among South Caucasus and European partners. Establishing a robust network of collaboration will allow for the ongoing exchange of best practices, monitoring of progress, and collective problem-solving. Regular communication and joint initiatives will help address challenges and leverage opportunities as they arise. 🔹 In conclusion, the management board meeting at the CIMEA office was a successful development in shaping the future actions of the Micro-GEAR Project by outlining clear plans and next steps of action.

🔹 As part of the European Commission ERASMUS+ Programme Micro-credentials for Higher Education systems of Georgia and Armenia Micro-GEAR, an important study visit took place at the European University of Rome in Italy, aimed at defining the Status-Quo and Roadmap on Micro-credentials for South Caucasus. This event gathered a task force of experts from Armenia and Georgia to share their experiences, gain insights into European practices, and refine the methodology for implementing Micro-credentials in their respective national contexts. Representatives of 16 institutions from 5 countries were involved in the study visit. 🔹The study visit provided a comprehensive overview of how Micro-credentials are integrated into the Italian higher education system, covering national laws, institutional regulations, and best practices. Representatives from European partner institutions participated and shared their valuable perspectives and expertise. The visit provided practical advice on starting the development of Micro-credentials at the institutional level. Italian partners shared their experiences, highlighting best practices, challenges faced, and strategies for success. 🔹Experts delved into the integration of Micro-credentials within the Italian education system. They explored how these credentials are recognized and valued in both academic and professional contexts, providing a model for South Caucasus institutions to consider. Italian partners provided detailed insights into the issuance and recognition of digital Micro-credentials, showcasing successful use cases and the technological infrastructure supporting these initiatives. Armenian and Georgian partners shared experiences, learned about European practices, and refined their methodologies for implementing Micro-credentials in their national contexts. 🔹This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the educational landscape in the South Caucasus through the adoption of Micro-credentials, aligning with European standards and practices.

🔹 The National Information Center for Academic Recognition and Mobility of Armenia (ArmENIC) organized a peer learning for the Armenian higher education institutions (HEIs) on the topic “Online Course Catalogues and Databases for Transparency and Recognition” in the framework of the Erasmus+ OCTRA 2 project. The event was hosted by Yerevan State University with 30 representatives present from the Armenian HEIs. The aim of the peer learning was to promote the dialogue between national information centers and HEIs to facilitate easier and more transparent recognition of qualifications. Moreover, the event focused on the micro-credentials and provision of reliable information about the micro-credentials in the online course catalogues. ℹ More Information regarding the event can be found at: https://lnkd.in/dzse53au

🔹On April 11, a working meeting for the Micro-GEAR project was organized at the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement of Georgia. Partners of the Micro-GEAR project gathered to discuss various project-related matters and plan future actions. The meeting addressed the situation regarding the micro-credentials questionnaire in Georgia and outlined plans for conducting the research.