Mardin Artuklu University

Erasmus Policy Statement

Mardin Artuklu University (MAU) is founded in 2007 in Turkey. The University is located in the city of Mardin, one of the ancient settlements reflecting the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Mesopotamia. Working devotedly to offer knowledge of academy to the people, to the society and to the city, Mardin Artuklu University aims to become one of the meeting points of open-minded and entrepreneurial individuals, who have developed an awareness of social responsibility and are open to multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches. Today, more than 16,252 students of which 2.059 are international students (variable-numbers according to the academic year), chose to study at MAU. As one of the young developing universities in Turkey, MAU consists of 11 faculties, 3 schools, 8 vocational school, and 2 institutions. Having the privilege of including Turkey’s first "Institute of Living Languages in Turkey" in its body, MAU is determined to contribute to the international scope to the study of social science and to become internationally recognized thematic (based on social science) and language intensive university. In addition to Turkish, MAU offers at the level of bachelor Kurdish Language and Literature (also MA), Syriac Language and Literature, Arabic Language and Literature, Persian Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, and Sociology both in TR and AR, Economy both in TR and AR, Business both in TR and AR, International Relations both in TR and AR, and Islamic Studies in AR.

Internationalisation and corporate connections are at the heart of the strategic agenda of the Mardin Artuklu University. International strategy of MAU constitutes an important element in formation of the region’s economic, cultural and social development. MAU positioned internationalisation centrally in the strategic cooperation; therefore MAU’s internationalisation policies support international visibility and developing quality by intensifying worldwide collaboration, expanding international network, partnerships and mobility opportunities. The international strategy covers both European and non-European countries. Supervised by the Rectorate and implemented by the International Affairs Office (IAO) in collaboration with the Erasmus Office, and the Project Coordination Unit, MAU’s strategy for internationalisation prioritizes the participation in student and staff mobility, the development of strategic partnerships, research alliances, capacity building with neighbouring countries, and the participation in networks and policy support initiatives. The International Affairs Office oversees international engagements, and employs the necessary means for advancing the University’s international strategies. The responsibility of implementing the Erasmus+ Programme (later the Programme) has been shared between Erasmus Office falling under IAO and the Project Coordination-as an independent unit. The Erasmus Office carries out the KA1 and mobility activities, and the Project Coordination Unit runs the KA2 and KA3 activities. IAO and the Project Coordination Unit are both involved in assisting and encouraging the faculties in taking active participation and involvement in European projects for strategic partnerships in the field of education, training, and youth. To work more devotedly in the mobility actions, the University has also introduced the Erasmus Institutional Coordinator for MAU whose duty is to help with very specific problems related to lack of experience or shortcomings in actions with regard to mobility.

MAU aims to expand its list of cooperation with both HEIs and local and international enterprises in its pursuit of achieving the objectives of the EU Modernisation Agenda for Higher Education at all level. To achieve international impact and to improve the quality in Higher Education, MAU’s strategy considers obligatory signing Inter-institutional agreements (for Erasmus+) and of Cooperation Agreements (for non-EU countries) and supporting strategic partnerships for implementing projects regardless geographical space and distance. International partners are chosen according to the specific needs individuated by university departments, also taking into due account subject area priorities, compatibility of academic profiles, relationship trust, and mutual strategic goals.

In the international strategy of MAU, importance is also given in developing strategic partnerships in order to foster of the region’s economic, cultural and social development. In relation with this importance, MAU’s strategy intents to expand the projects in the Erasmus+ Key Actions (KA1, KA2, and KA3) in education and cooperation activities for innovation and good practices. Taken together, all the routes under the Erasmus+ Programme will continue to cultivate the international and dynamic dimension of the institution by implementing innovative education approaches.

The 2014-2020 phase in the Erasmus+ Programme had profound and positive effect on the whole university and has played an important role in achieving the international goal of the institution, as well as the participation in Erasmus+ mobility actions and European and international cooperation projects, with positive results. In this regard, student mobility (particularly under Erasmus) has been and still is a special focus for MAU. As the University aims to develop graduates as global citizens who have the necessary abilities; such as critical thinking, initiative taking, expression competence, multilingual and cultural awareness skills, and participate fully in an international and diverse environment. To encourage more students from all backgrounds, including individual with fewer opportunities to engage in international mobility and to accept more students from partner organisations onto credit bearing courses at Bachelor, Master and Doctoral levels is contributing to enhancing the international recognition of the University. 

By working more pro-actively with the European and international partners and sharing the good practice developed, MAU intend to provide high-quality education, training and life long learning opportunities for everybody to develop key competence and to support ‘academic staff in implementing competence-based teaching and learning approaches’. To achieve international impact through maximising qualitative research activities, MAU will also focus on enhancing the quality and quantity of the mobility of outgoing and incoming academic staff to and from participating and non-participating countries. Opportunities provided to our own academics to visit universities around and outside Europe allows for enhancing cooperation in joint teaching programs and multi-lateral research activities. MAU's administrative staff will also be support to join in international cooperation activities.

MAU’s internationalisation strategy comprises to create a positive impact on the life in the campus. Therefore, the university takes firm steps toward building an area for “internationalisation at home”. The mutual contribution of other HEI and stakeholders’ input, involvement of foreign lecturers, with a compatible curriculum and incoming participants foster the dynamic and diverse structure of the institution. The mobile students engaged in credit mobility will not be charged for tuition, registration, examination or access to library or laboratory facilities. To increase the mobility numbers and to balance the number of incoming and outgoing students and academic staff, the numbers of English language taught modules at the institutions will be improved and traineeships will be offered to mobility students. To support language diversity and multilingual competence, MAU is going to continue its activity to provide incoming students and scholars with an opportunity to learn Turkish, Kurdish, Zazaki, Syriac, and Modern Standard Arabic languages via its language departments, MAUZEM (the Distance Learning Center of MAU), TÖMER and MAUSEM (the Continuing Education Practice and Research Center of MAU). 

The academic programmes at MAU are designed in compatible with the Bologna Process, and it has established its programmes and operation in accordance with the European and National Qualifications Framework. To facilitate the mobility of people and clarity of student qualifications, transparency, and recognition of qualifications based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System- ECTS is fully used for credit allocation in all academic departments. Mardin Artuklu University provides full recognition tools such as ECTS and is licenced with the Diploma Supplement in the Erasmus mobility activities. Non-discrimination principle is one of MAU’s fundamental values. A non-discrimination statement based on ‘based on sex or any distinctions, race, religious, language, colour, disability, age, and under represented groups’ and adopting the principle of equality is publicized by MAU. 

In the new phase of the Programme, expanding and diversifying its partnerships will continue to be of the main goals of MAU’s internationalisation strategy. MAU believes that enhancing network and developing strong partnerships substantially contributes to the quality of education and research and mobility activities. Additively to the previous period in the Programme, MAU is determined to follow environment friendly policies in the application process of the Programme. To ensure the internationalisation and the modernisation in its structure in the phase 2021-2027 Erasmus+ Programme, the University prioritises the headings below:
•    Enhancing and strengthening the infrastructure of education, research and strategic partnerships in projects and establishing mutually beneficial long term partnerships
•    Organizing the infrastructure double/joint degree programs, joint curricula to create a lasting contribution to the expansion of international structure
•    Taking measures to promote equal access and opportunities, ensuring that there is no discrimination in the mobility actions and providing transparent, equal, and just selection process
•    Taking necessary steps towards providing an opportunity to disadvantaged individuals, refugees, people with disabilities or under-represented groups 
•    Continuing to provide full recognition of the acquisitions in the Erasmus+ mobility programmes in order to provide visibility
•    Promoting new and innovative student-centred curriculum and education approaches
•    Completing the digitalisation process and supporting the new initiatives; such as European Student Card Initiative (ESC) and blended mobility and taking necessary steps to ensure their application 
•    Supporting eco-friendly policies and encouraging the mobility students to take actively part in environmentally friendly projects. 

The 2021-2027 Erasmus+ Programme is seen as a core element of the institution’s internationalisation and modernisation strategy. Within its mission to promote the learning mobility of individuals and/or co-operation for innovation and good practices in the Programme Mardin Artuklu University will adhere to the fundamental principles of the ECHE and its ERASMUS Policy Statement. In the preparation of applicants for mobility projects and cooperation projects, MAU follows the quality standards defined by ECHE. To increase mobility and quality, all the initiatives aiming at development will be supported and promoted, and obstacles - simply removed. To achieve the above-mentioned goals we will co-operate with the EACEA, the National Agency of Turkey and other key-partners.

In order to ensure the visibility and the dissemination of Erasmus+ Programme principles, MAU publishes the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education and the Erasmus Policy Statement on its Official Erasmus+ web page at: 
https://www.artuklu.edu.tr/erasmus-ofisi/about-us