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
◘ Step 1: Opening of the IRIS programme in each academic year (December/January)
◘ Step 2: Publication of the list of available projects and sister institutions (December/January)
◘ Step 3: Applying to the IRIS program (February) – prior to the academic year in which the investigation will be made
◘ Step 4: Analysis of the applications (March)
◘ Step 5: Publication of student selection results (April)
◘ Step 6: Virtual mobility (May – 1st semester or November – 2nd semester)
◘ 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: https://research.univ-unita.eu/en/support-for-researchers/shared-research-infrastructures.html
◘ 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.