How to organize NOVA intensive course? - Info session for teachers Janna Koivisto Sari Mikkola Maatalous-metsätieteellinen tiedekunta

NOVA University Network Nordic Forestry, Veterinary and Agricultural University Network Platform for efficient and innovative Nordic cooperation NOVA University Network was established in 1995 to initiate, administer and promote active cooperation between the member institutions in education, teaching and research NOVA's efforts are focused on PhD and MSc education, and the cooperation is carried out by means of networks

NOVA Strategy : Mission and Main aim Mission NOVA will support and promote life sciences in the Nordic countries by facilitating cooperation in higher education. NOVA shall promote establishment of networks that will develop innovative and high quality education within their fields. The bringing together of students, teachers and scientists in NOVA networks and courses will enhance both education and research. Main aim NOVA will focus its efforts within PhD and MSc education; create specialized PhD courses of a high international standard, and increase course quality, diversity and student mobility within MSc education.

NOVA members Denmark University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, LIFE University of Aarhus, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, AU-DJF Finland University of Helsinki, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, HU-AF University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, HU-V University of Eastern Finland, School of Forest Sciences, UEF-F Iceland Agricultural University of Iceland, LBHI Norway Norwegian University of Life Sciences, UMB Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, NVH Sweden The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU

BOVA members Viro Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU) Latvia Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU) Liettua Lithuanian University of Agriculture (LZUU) Liettua Lithuanian Veterinary Academy (LVA)

NOVA Strategy : NOVA shall Enhance the quality and broaden the scope of teaching Promote greater resource-efficiency and reduce teaching costs Facilitate collaboration in scientific areas where the resources of member institutions are limited Deal effectively with ongoing expansions within the field of scientific knowledge and the need for further specialisation Increase the international competitiveness of member institutions Be a proficient partner for dialogue with relevant sectors.

Key targets for the strategic period of 2007–2010 Establishment of Nordic networks. Development of quality PhD courses. Development of MSc intensive courses and joint programmes. Establishment of political forums. Market and make NOVA visible to students, teachers and scientists. Continue supporting an active NOVA Student Board (NSB).

NOVA Networks Platform for collaboration between NOVA members with a common interest in a specific subject area. The goal with NOVA networks is to stimulate activities, and to ensure that all NOVA activities within the area of PhD, MSc and BSc level education are carried out with as much Nordic cooperation as possible. Responsibility for establishing and running a network is placed at the institutions Responsibility for running a network may alternate between member institutions In total 31 networks have been active in submitting applications or in implementing courses during 2009 New areas!

NOVA Networks For establishment of networks, at least two NOVA members from two countries must be part of the application and the specific goal must be to include all NOVA members with activities in the specific subject area in the network. The course must run within a network consisting of at least three NOVA partners, or two NOVA and one BOVA partner, from at least three different countries. Course group members and teachers -> Evaluation of Nordic Dimension The head applicant and the academic course leader must come from a NOVA member institution.

NOVA Networks 1) PhD research training networks - NOVA has a number of networks concentrating on courses for research training (NOVA PhD courses) - At present 51 networks - Networks that organize PhD courses are registered in NOVA’s application database 2) NOVA networks with own websites Agroecology, Aquaculture, BeeNOVA, Biosystems Engineering, NorPath, Pedictnet,SoilSOC

PhD courses NOVA has had great success in arranging innovative, top- quality PhD courses that attract both NOVA and international students 14 courses in 2007, 197 PhD students 17 courses in 2008, 264 PhD students 20 courses in courses in 2010 Funding from NOVA ensures that sufficient resources are allocated for the course.

PhD courses On many courses non-Nordic world leading experts are invited as guest teachers. NOVA courses are open to everyone with the required background, but PhD students from NOVA member institutions are prioritised in the admission. MSc students from the NOVA members can after approval of the course organizers also be accepted to the course.

PhD courses For students registered at any of the NOVA member institutions, NOVA PhD courses are free of charge and includes accommodation and meals. Travel costs are not covered by NOVA. Students from other universities are welcome if place is available, but must pay course fee and accommodation.course fee Students from other Nordic universities and from any of the BOVA members are relieved from course fee. BOVA members Admission is handled by respective course administrator - address is found in course information.

NOVA Intensive MSc Courses (NIMC) Courses are intensive courses of about one to two weeks (min 5 days) Participating students from at least two visiting NOVA member institution Courses should be arranged during the so-called summer and winter mobility windows (weeks 2-3 and 33-34) 5 courses in courses in 2009 (1 HU-V and 2 HU-AF) 7 courses in 2010 (1 HU-V)

NOVA Intensive MSc Courses (NIMC) Main working principle is that all approved NOVA activities are by default mutually recognised by all NOVA members, this should facilitate student mobility. For BSc students, NOVA will from 2010 onwards run summer courses. two NOVA members during summer period also for first year students include field visits and exercises BSc and MSc students can apply for scholarships that cover travel and living costs from Nordplus.

Organisation