BALTIC SEA REGION UNIVERSITY NETWORK

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BALTIC SEA REGION UNIVERSITY NETWORK
BALTIC SEA REGION UNIVERSITY NETWORK Kari
Hyppönen Chairman of Steering Committee
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Bilateral Co-operation Agreements St.
Petersburg State University 1966 University of
Gdansk 1979 University of Rostock 1981 Uni
versity of Tartu 1987 Gdansk University of
Technology 1991 Vilnius University 1992


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Baltic Sea Region University Network BSRUN


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Background and Rationale

• university, city and region interest in the
  Baltic Sea
• region
• enlargement of the EU
• not just another TEMPUS project
• learning from your neighbours
• cross-border co-operation

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Background and Rationale

• to enhance interest in the region
• to market the region elsewhere
• to enhance co-operation between networks
• facilitator
• exchange of experiences, best practices and
• new ideas
• to establish new institutional links

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Background and Rationale

• loose umbrella organisation
• to pick and choose according to one's wishes and
  
• needs
• variety of institutional profiles
• only small secretariat
• host university covers coordination expenses
• participants cover their own expenses

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• 28 Feb 2000 Turku and 15 universities from
  Estonia, Latvia,
• Lithuania, Poland and Russia
• Saaremaa University Centre
• University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
  (2002)
• Braniewo Centre
• Baltic Fishing Fleet State Academy, Herzen
  State Pedagogical University of
• Russia, ISM University of Management and
  Economics, Kaliningrad State
• Technical University and Pultusk Academy of
  Humanities (2003)

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• Belarusian State Agricultural Academy, Grodno
  State Medical University,
• Kaunas University of Medicine, Latvia
  University of Agriculture, Lithuanian
• University of Agriculture, Šiauliai
  University, University of Warsaw, Vilnius
• Academy of Arts, Vilnius Pedagogical
  University and Yanka Kupala
• State University of Grodno (2005)
• Petrozavodsk State University, St.Petersburg
  University of Information
• Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, Turku
  School of Economics, Vytautas
• Magnus University and Yaroslav-the-Wise
  Novgorod State University (2006)
• Mykolas Romeris University (2007)
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (2008)

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• BELARUS
• Belarusian State Agricultural Academy
• Grodno State Agrarian University
• Grodno State Medical University
• Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno
• ESTONIA
• Estonian University of Life Sciences
• Tallinn University of Technology
• Tallinn University
• University of Tartu
• FINLAND
• Turku School of Economics

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• LATVIA
• Latvia University of Agriculture
• Riga Technical University
• University of Latvia
• LITHUANIA
• ISM University of Management and Economics
• Kaunas University of Medicine
• Kaunas University of Technology
• Klaipeda University
• Lithuanian University of Agriculture
• Mykolas Romeris University
• Šiauliai University
• Vilnius Academy of Arts
• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• POLAND
• Gdansk University of Technology
• Medical University of Gdansk
• Pultusk Academy of Humanities
• University of Gdansk
• University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (UWM)
• University of Warsaw
• Warsaw School of Economics

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• Baltic Sea Region University Network
• RUSSIA
• Baltic Fishing Fleet State Academy
• Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia
• Immanuel Kant State University of Russia
• Kaliningrad State Technical University
• Petrozavodsk State University
• St. Petersburg State University
• St. Petersburg University of Information
  Technologies, Mechanics
• and Optics
• Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University

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• Focus of Co-operation
• Baltic Studies and Baltic Sea Region studies
• Distance Education and Open and Distance
  Learning
• European Integration and European Studies
• Institutional Management and Administration
• Internationalisation
• Management Information Systems and Information
  
• Technology
• Regional Development

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• The Baltic Sea Region University Network
• www.bsrun.org
• Front page
• News
• Looking for a partner
• Saaremaa University Centre
• Vacancies
• General information
• Agreement
• Members
• Organisation
• Contacts
• Steering Committee
• Activities
• Seminars and Meetings
• Joint Research projects
• Fields of study
• Courses in English

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• Steering Committee 2008-2010
• Members (Substitutes)
• Estonian University of Life Sciences (University
  of Tartu)
• I. Kant State University of Russia (Kaliningrad
  State Technical University)
• Klaipeda University (Vilnius Pedagogical
  University)
• St. Petersburg State University (Herzen State
  Pedagogical University of Russia)
• Šiauliai University (Vilnius Gediminas Technical
  University)
• University of Gdansk (Gdansk University of
  Technology)
• University of Latvia (Riga Technical University)
• University of Turku (Turku School of Economics)

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Steering Committee
Chairman Kari Hyppönen Director of
Administration University of Turku Estonian
University of Life Sciences Külli
Kõrgesaar International Relations
Officer Immanuel Kant State University of
Russia Igor Joukovski Head of International
Office Klaipeda University Director (act) Nora
Venslovaite International Relations' Office St.
Petersburg State University Dr. Stanislav
Tkachenko Professor Šiauliai University Director
Regina Karveliene Department of International
Programmes and Relations
Vice-Chairman Janis Stonis Director of
Administration University of Latvia University
of Gdansk Professor Bernard Lammek Rector Univers
ity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Professor
Janusz Golaszewski Vice-Dean of the Faculty of
Environmental Management and Agriculture Yanka
Kupala State University of Grodno Director
Alexander Ivanov Center for International
Development and Collaboration Secretary Aila
Grönholm University of Turku
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Activities Baltic Seminar of University
Administrators BSUA

• Riga, Latvia, 14-16 September 2000
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 7-8 May 2001
• Tartu, Estonia, 6-7 May 2002
• Kaliningrad, Russia, 16-17 May 2003
• Warsaw, Poland, 14-15 May 2004
• Vilnius, Lithuania, 13-14 May 2005
• St. Petersburg, Russia, 12-13 May 2006
• Turku, Finland, 11-12 May 2007
• Gdansk, Poland, 16-17 May 2008
• Riga, Latvia, 14-15 May 2009

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• Activities
• 2000
• The Role of the University in the Development of
  Regional Policy Juodkrante, Lithuania, 13-14
  June 2000
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA) Riga, Latvia, 14-16 September 2000
• 2001
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA) Kaunas, Lithuania, 7-8 May 2001
• Senior Management Seminar Seminar was intended
  for the representatives of the University of
  Latvia,
• Riga Technical University, University of Tartu
  and the University of Turku
• Kuressaare, Estonia, 11-13 October 2001

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• Activities
• 2002
• Plenary Meeting
• Gdansk, Poland, 4-5 March 2002  
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Tartu, Estonia, 6-7 May 2002
• Workshop on Current Topics in European Research
  Management
• Turku, Finland, 27-28 May 2002
• Senior Management Seminar Seminar was intended
  for the representatives of the University of
  Latvia,
• Riga Technical University and the University of
  Turku
• Riga, Latvia, 11-12 October 2002
• Student Administration and Computing Olsztyn,
  Poland, 25-26 October 2002

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• Activities
• 2003
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Academic Leadership and University Management
  
• Kaliningrad, Russia, 16-17 May 2003
• Senior Management Seminar
• Seminar was intended for the representatives
  of the University of Latvia and
• the University of Turku,
• Kuressaare, Estonia, 19-20 September 2003
• University PR and the Media
• Riga, Latvia, 3-4 October 2003
• Research Support Services Promoting
  Exploitation of University
• Expertise
• Riga, Latvia, 3-4 October 2003

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• Activities
• 2004
• Plenary Meeting
• Riga, Latvia, 5-6 March 2004
• Faculty Management Seminar
• Kuressaare, 6-7 May 2004
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA) Financial Management of Universities
  Warsaw, Poland, 14-15 May 2004
• Good Scientific Practice BSRUN Workshop on
  Research Ethics
• Turku, Finland, 12-13 November 2004
• Doctoral Studies as Part of the Bologna
  Process
• Klaipeda, Lithuania, 10-11 December 2004

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• Activities
• 2005
• Enlarged European Union in House of Europe New
  Internal and
• External Problems
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 6 May 2005
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Implementing Institutional Strategy Problems
  and Solutions
• Vilnius, Lithuania, 13-14 May 2005
• PhD Programmes in Cultural Interaction and
  Integration and
• the Baltic Sea Region
• Tartu, Estonia, 7-9 September 2005
• PhD Programmes in Medicine and Health Sciences
  
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 16-17 September 2005

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• Activities
• 2006
• Faculty Management and Administration
• Kuressaare, Estonia, 13-14 January 2006
• Cultural Impact on Sensory Properties and
  Values in Baltic Sea
• Region
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 23 January 2006
• Plenary Meeting Tallinn, Estonia, 24-25
  March 2006
• Universities as Active Agents in the Social and
  Economic
• Development of the Regions
• Grodno, Belarus, 21-22 April 2006
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Implementation of the Bologna Process, Quality
  Assurance and

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• Activities
• 2006
• Cross-cultural Differences in Food Consumption
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 30-31 May 2006
• Problems of Internationalisation of University
  Education View
• from Russia and the European Union
• Svetlogorsk, Russia, 5-6 June 2006
• Health Profiling, Healthy Ageing and Health
  Impact Assessment
• (Baltic Region Healthy Cities and BSRUN)
• Kaunas, Lithuania, 16-17 June 2006
• Quality and Qualifications in Translation and
  Interpreting
• Vilnius, Lithuania, 7-8 December 2006
• Marketing BSRUN Universities in the Baltic Sea
  Region and

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• Activities
• 2007
• Healthy Ageing - Active Ageing (Baltic
  Region Healthy Cities and BSRUN)
• Pärnu, Estonia, 26 April 2007
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• University City Co-operation
• Turku, Finland, 11-12 May 2007
• Towards Dynamic Interaction of Municipalities,
  Enterprises and
• Universities
• Kuressaare, Estonia, 20 June 2007
• The Recent Development of the EU Challenges
  and Experience
• Klaipeda, Lithuania, 11-12 October 2007
• Quality and Qualifications in Translation and
  Interpreting II Tallinn, Estonia, 29-30
  November 2007

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• Activities
• 2008
• Plenary Meeting
• Kaliningrad, Russia, 13-14 March 2008
• Healthy Ageing Active Ageing II
• (Baltic Region Healthy Cities and BSRUN)
• Jurmala, Latvia, 17-18 April 2008
• Seminar on Tolerance
• 25 April 2008
• BSRUN session at Seminar on Tolerance and
  Intolerance
• in the Modern World The East the West
• St. Petersburg, Russia, 24-25 April 2008
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Branding Universities and Place Promotion

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• Activities
• 2008
• Modelling the European Future Integrating the
  Old and the New Klaipeda, Lithuania, 2-3
  October 2008
• Quality and Qualifications in Translation and
  Interpreting III Kaliningrad, Russia, 8-9
  October 2008
• BSRUN Round-Table on Baltic Sea Strategy
• (Centrum Balticum and BSRUN)
• Turku, Finland, 28 November 2008

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• Activities
• 2009
• Baltic Seminar of University Administrators
  (BSUA)
• Role of Governing Bodies in Higher Education.
  Recent
• Developments in Higher Education
• Riga, Latvia, 14-15 May 2009

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• Future Activities
• Topical Issues in the Internationalisation of
  Higher Education
• - Creating New Identities for Institutions
  through Internationalisation
• - Regional Universities Issues of Visibility
  and International Recognition
• - Technology Education Today Crisis or
  Development?
• Novgorod, Russia, 18-19 May 2009
• Quality and Qualifications in Translation and
  Interpreting IV
• Grodno, Belarus, 8-9 October 2009
• Social Sciences in Global World Possibilities,
  Challenges and
• Perspectives Klaipeda, Lithuania, 8-9
  October 2009
• External Relations
• - Business Relations / - Media Relations
• Warsaw, Poland, 10-11 December 2009
• Financial Management in the Current Economic
  Situation Autumn 2009

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• Evaluation of BSRUN
• Alternative development scenarios
• Network for university administrators
• Broad platform for university co-operation
• Network for development in particular field/s

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• Evaluation of BSRUN
• Geographical development of the network
• Concentrate on eastern side of the Baltic Sea
• Develop network around all countries by the
  Baltic Sea

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• Evaluation of BSRUN
• Type of institution development of the network
• Keep the diversified profile of the network
• Develop network as a network of big,
  multi-field universities
• Develop network as a network of public higher
  education
• institutions

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• Evaluation of BSRUN
• Steering the network
• Network is steered by Steering Committee, having
  
• rotating chairmanship of the Steering
  Committee
• 2. Network is steered by rotating Presidency of
  the network
• Network has Steering Committee with rotating
• chairmanship as well as Presidency with
  designated President of
• the network

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• Evaluation of BSRUN
• Financing of the network
• Direct costs
• Direct costs covered by the participants but
  additional sources of
• funding should be explored
• Indirect costs
• could be covered by one of the networking
  institutions
• 2. could be covered by fixed fee from member
  institutions
• could be covered by the institutions having
  rotating chairmanship
• of Steering Committee or Presidency

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Joint Research Projects

• A.S.A.P. Efficient Administrative Structures
  as a Prerequisite
• for Successful Economic and Social Development
  of Rural Areas
• in Demographic Transition
• Due to their generally lower economic potential,
  rural areas are especially dependent on effective
  public sector strategies in order to safeguard
  economic and social development. Demographic
  transition often creates further challenges for
  the regional development of rural areas.
• Basic prerequisites for rural development are
  efficient administrative structures at the
  regional and local level which are capable of
  creating and implementing adjusted policies. It
  has also been acknowledged by both researchers
  and policy makers that knowledge is one of the
  key factors for regional prosperity in the 21st
  century.
• Local availability of knowledge and skills is as
  important as physical infrastructure. This is why
  the demand for the universities third task,
  meaning active interaction with regional
  stakeholders, has emerged.

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The project lays foundations for more
effective and sustainable administrative support
for rural development by a) strengthening the
utilisation of advanced forms of ICT b)
developing strategies for meeting the challenges
of the demographic change and c) linking
universities to regional development processes.
The aim is to create a transnational platform for
exchange of experiences on administrative reform
and universities contribution to regional
development with special focus on the demands of
rural areas. All together 37 partners from the
seven Baltic Sea countries (Finland, Estonia,
Latvia, Russia, Germany, Denmark and Sweden)
participate in the project including the BSRUN
members University of Turku, Saaremaa University
Centre and Riga Technical University. The project
is part-financed by the BSR Interreg III B
Neighbourhood Programme. The implementation
period is 1.1.2006 31.12.2007.

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LIGHTHOUSE TOURISM IN THE ARCHIPELAGOES OF
SOUTH-WEST FINLAND AND ESTONIA www.lighthousetour
ism.net
In Finland there are 60 lighthouses, of which
Bengtskär, Isokari, Söderskär and Utö participate
in the project. In Estonia there are 61
lighthouses, of which only the Hiiumaa
lighthouses Kõpu, Ristna and Tahkuna, are open to
the public. The project will increase
know-how on administration and exploitation of
lighthouses and their surroundings. ease the
reaching of the lighthouses by creating usage
plans for the surrounding areas and by setting up
road signs and information boards. organise
training to cooperation partners of lighthouses,
especially entrepreneurs. develop lighthouse
tourism products and open marketing channels for
them.
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Partners and timetable University of Turku in
Finland and Eurohouse in Estonia are the lead
partners of the project. Other partners in
Finland and Estonia are many municipalities,
state organizations and local entrepreneurs and
Saaremaa University Centre. The project takes
place 1.4.-31.12.2007. Financing The joint
budget of the project is 79 226 . The project is
funded mainly by the EU program Interreg IIIA of
South-Finland and Estonia. National funding comes
from the ministries of internal affairs in
Finland and Estonia. In addition the partners of
the project provide funding.
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THE UNIVERSITY-REGION COOPERATION NETWORK OF
SOUTHWEST FINLAND AND SAAREMAA
Background Universities are important regional
resources due to their international networks,
project management experience and versatile
expertise and research. Viable business, on the
other hand, is an essential part in building the
well-being of municipalities and regions.
However, experience has shown that the
cooperation between universities, entrepreneurs,
municipalities and development centres is often
difficult. Universities have to learn to develop
their role in society. The cooperation between
Finnish and Estonian universities is a potential
resource in developing the Baltic Sea region and
its learning network. The Saaremaa University
Centre was established in September 1997 by the
University of Turku, University of Tartu, Tallinn
University of Technology, Estonian University of
Life Sciences, Tallinn University and Saaremaa
County Government. It is a regional resource
worth its five member universities. The full
regional development potential of the Centre has
not yet actualized either in Saaremaa region or
in the Baltic Sea region.
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Aims and operations The general aim of the
project is to reinforce the cross-border
cooperation between the member universities of
the Saaremaa University Centre and regional
development authorities of Southwest Finland and
Saaremaa. In addition, the goal is to develop and
compare the operations models between
universities and regional actors in order to
reinforce efficiency in development work. The
official project partners are University of Turku
as the Coordinator and Saaremaa University Centre
and the project is carried out during 1.4. -
31.12.2007. The main goal is to elaborate the
preconditions for establishing a
regionuniversity cooperation network between the
universities and regional development authorities
in Southwest Finland and Saaremaa. The
cross-border cooperation network would create new
links between universities, regional development
authorities and local business. In addition the
network would strengthen the learning environment
in the central Baltic Sea region. To pilot
international universityregion cooperation, the
project formulates a model for the cooperation
between the member universities of the Saaremaa
University Centre and Saaremaa regional
development authorities. In addition, a
development plan for the Saaremaa University
Centre is formulated.
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Financing The overall budget for the project is
c.a. 57 000 . Majority of the funds is received
from the INTERREG IIIA Southern Finland Estonia
Programme and the project is co-financed by the
Finnish Ministry of the Education and Estonian
Ministry of the Interior.
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Memorandum based on the discussions at the
Baltic Sea Region University Network (BSRUN)
seminar on Doctoral Studies as Part of the
Bologna Process organized at Klaipeda University
on 10-11 December 2004 At the seminar, the
present and the future of postgraduate studies in
Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and
Russia were examined. What is now needed are a
more detailed analysis and comparison of the
existing regulations of PhD/Dr. studies at
various levels in these countries (legislation,
ministry and university regulations). In some
academic fields in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
there is a lack of qualified experts in one
particular country. Herewith, the presence of
highly qualified scientists in several research
areas naturally calls to explore opportunities
for enhanced international co-operation in the
organization of PhD/Dr. studies including joint
degrees and development of such a research area
within BSRUN and EU.

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The degree to which PhD/Dr. studies are regulated
by legislation or by central authorities should
also be evaluated from the point of view of
university autonomy and good scientific practice.
In many countries, the more detailed regulations
concerning PhD/Dr. studies are left to the
academic community to decide. Joint efforts are
needed to secure international and national
funding for jointly organized courses, doctoral
schools and PhD/Dr. boards. International
co-operation in the organization of joint PhD/Dr.
studies would also enhance the quality and
quantity of PhD degrees, when proper quality
assurance mechanisms are put in place.
Klaipeda, 05-01-2005