Koç University has partnership agreements with more than 290 universities in 60 countries. Most of these agreements also involve faculty exchange programs. Academic staff at Koç University have the opportunity to spend a teaching period, training or job shadowing abroad. Office for International Programs (OIP) (outgoing@ku.edu.tr) can answer the questions related to these programs.

Faculty members interested in participating these programs should first discuss their possible visits with their Deans and get their approval and then contact OIP for the application process. The application announcements are made on KU Daily by OIP. Faculty members are also advised to check the Application & Selection Calendar on OIP’s website.

III.3.4.1. ERASMUS+ FACULTY EXCHANGE:

• Staff Mobility For Teaching Assignments (STA)Erasmus+ enables university academic staff to spend teaching periods at partner universities via bilateral agreements in which the staff mobility for teaching assignments is foreseen. Teaching periods can have a duration of 2 days to 2 months, on the condition of teaching for minimum 8 hours per week (5 days). The Erasmus+ grant covers travel and subsistence costs.
• Staff Mobility For Training (STT)
  An academic staff of a university with an Erasmus University Charter (EUC) can also benefit from the staff mobility training (STT) in an Erasmus partner university or in a business enterprise. A faculty member can choose whether to participate in a STT at an enterprise, at another university or another higher education institution (HEI). STT can be realized as a training or as a job shadowing activity. STT exchanges can last from two days to two months, and the Erasmus+ grant covers travel and subsistence costs.
• Erasmus Grant
  The total grant amount is calculated based on the daily grant amount for a host country and the total number of days of the mobility. Program also provides Travel Grant based on the distance calculated between Türkiye and the host country. Detailed information can be found OIP’s website.

III.3.4.2. ERASMUS+ WORLDWIDE FACULTY EXCHANGE:

Erasmus+ extends beyond Europe, allowing for mobility from and to other parts of the world (between 33 Program and 84 Partner Countries). Program Countries are countries participating fully in the Erasmus+ program and Türkiye is one of the 33 Program Countries. Partner Countries cover the rest of the world outside the European Union.

Erasmus+ Worldwide/ICM program offers the chance to participate in an exchange program at a Partner Country. Each year Koç University applies for mobility funding for specific institutions in Partner Countries. Once KU is granted with Erasmus+ ICM funding, the list of countries and partner institutions are announced and promoted to KU community. The list of Erasmus+ Worldwide/ICM countries and partners may change every year. Therefore, same institutions may not be available for mobility every academic year.

• Teaching Mobility
  Similar to Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Teaching, Erasmus+ Worldwide scheme provides support for teaching at international institutions. Teaching assignments can come in various forms and take place as seminars, lectures and tutorials. The minimum amount of teaching hours is 8 hours per week, and the minimum duration of stay is 5 days.
• Training Mobility
  This activity supports the professional development of HEI teaching and nonteaching staff in the form of training activities abroad (excluding conferences) and job shadowing/observation periods/training at a partner HEI, or at another relevant organization abroad. The minimum duration of stay is 5 days for training mobility.
• Erasmus+ Worldwide Grant
  For Erasmus+ Worldwide/ICM exchange partners, the daily grant amount is 180 € for mobility activities up to 14 days. Program also provides Travel Grant to participants based on the distance between Türkiye and the host country. Detailed information can be found OIP’s website.

III.3.4.3. SWISS STAFF MOBILITY

Due to the outcome of the federal vote on February 9, 2014, the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU regarding the participation in the Erasmus+ program have been suspended. The Swiss higher education institutions can therefore not participate in Erasmus+ for the time being. However, lecturers and higher education staff are able to complete a period of teaching or training abroad at a partner University in Switzerland in the framework of the new “Swiss-European Mobility Program” with bilateral exchange agreements. The grants will be paid by the Swiss partner institutions. More information can be found on OIP’s website.