IRIS - Internationalisation through Research Activities

    From UNITApedia

    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.

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