IRIS - Internationalisation through Research Activities

Category of recipe: Internationalisation through research activities, Internationalisation through partnerships.
Objective:Developing global competence / employability skills, improving academic quality / offer, Attracting International students.

Short description of the recipe

◘ The IRIS programme fosters international research collaboration by enabling students to engage in mobility within partner institutions (sister schools) through joint research projects.
◘Sister schools refer to institutions with the same scientific disciplines or degree programmes, such as Pharmacy or Medicinal Biotechnology, and with ongoing research projects in similar fields.
◘ The programme is designed for final-year undergraduate (typically 3rd or 4th-year students) or master’s (2nd-year) students, particularly those working on a thesis or research project that can be developed in a lab or within an active investigation.
◘ Students, IRIS coordinators, and representatives from the sister schools formalise participation through an international research agreement, ensuring alignment with both institutions' academic priorities.
◘ Each year, participating institutions provide a list of available research projects. Students apply by submitting a research proposal (3–4 pages) outlining project objectives and expected outcomes.

Level of difficulty

Advanced

Calendar and time needed

• Opening of the IRIS programme in each academic year (December/January)
• Duration of the programme for participants: Either the 1st or 2nd semester, or up to 12 months (similar to an internship model).

Cost summary

€ or €€

Academic recognition

• Recognition through ECTS credits (if integrated into a curricular unit).
• Alternatively, students receive a certificate of participation, detailing the number of research hours completed.

Language and level required

Minimum B1 level in English.

Roles and Responsibilities

Students (Graduating undergraduates or master’s students)

• Apply for the IRIS programme through the UNITA or mobility office.
• Engage in virtual and physical mobility components as outlined in the research agreement.
• Selection occurs in the year prior to participation, allowing students to plan their research project in advance and secure placement in a suitable institution.

Academic coordinator

• In consultation with the responsible person for each research project:
  • Discuss with students the best opportunities for developing their research project.
  • For curricular research projects or internships, contact Erasmus coordinators at the partner institution.
  • For master's students or independent researchers, collaborate with the Erasmus coordinator, Head of Degree Programme, and research lab supervisor to finalise placements.

Erasmus Coordinator at Partner Institution

• Reviews student applications and facilitates research agreements.
• Ensures administrative compliance for student mobility.

UNITA Office / Mobility Office

• Manages student applications and ensures compliance with international mobility agreements.
• Guides students through administrative and logistical procedures.

Advisor in Internationalisation (if available)

• Ensures IRIS aligns with the university’s global research strategy.
• Provides institutional guidance on international research partnerships.

Pedagogical Engineers (if available)

• Support the development of digital tools and frameworks for international research training.

Ingredients

• Signed agreement for research internationalisation under the IRIS programme.
• Virtual component prior to physical mobility, allowing students to plan research activities collaboratively.
• Physical mobility for experimental or laboratory-based research at the host institution.
• Learning Agreement signed by all participating institutions and students.

Recipe steps

1. **Step 1:** Opening of the IRIS programme in each academic year (December/January)
2. **Step 2:** Publication of the list of available projects and sister institutions (December/January)
3. **Step 3:** Applying to the IRIS program (February) – prior to the academic year in which the investigation will be made
4. **Step 4:** Analysis of the applications (March)
5. **Step 5:** Publication of student selection results (April)
6. **Step 6:** Virtual mobility (May – 1st semester or November – 2nd semester)
7. **Step 7:** Physical mobility (September–February: 1st semester / February–July: 2nd semester)

Budget description

• Research activities are included in the ongoing investigation projects available in each sister school.
• Costs are supported by each receiving institution or project.
• Costs related to programmed and authorised research activities can be supported by grants, if available.
• Students will not bear the cost of any research activity.

Non-mandatory items

Resources

• Tutorial/template documents, videos, Flash-learns, international skills frameworks, etc.
• Re-UNITA Project: Sharing Research Infrastructures
  • Facilitates research exchanges across UNITA partner universities.
  • Enables researchers to access laboratory equipment at partner institutions.
  • Encourages cost-sharing and collaboration in research projects.
• For more information: [1]

Successful examples of this recipe

• Instituto Politécnico da Guarda: At IPG, students of Pharmacy and Medicinal Biotechnology have participated in research mobility at institutions in Spain and Italy.