In the preparatory phase of the project, communication with the management of the School of Business at CBU and a comparison of study programs and specializations took place. Based on the preparatory phase of the project, which confirmed the interest in the development of cooperation on the part of the CBU management and the School of Business UCT, the main objectives were set:
Within the set goals, there will be a bilateral exchange of experience and methodologies in the academic, pedagogical, scientific and subsequently publishing areas, on the basis of which innovative elements will be specified and implemented in the educational programs at CBU. In cooperation with the CBU and other entities (e.g. the Czech Embassy in Zambia, charitas.cz in Zambia, etc.), further contacts will be established for possible networking with the economic sectors.
Copperbelt University (CBU) is the second largest public university in Zambia, established by an Act of the Zambian Parliament in 1987. It is located in the city of Kitwe in the Copperbelt Province. It was originally called the Business Campus of the University of Zambia in Ndola. The Business School formed the basis for the creation of CBU. The Business School is currently one of the ten faculties of CBU. It currently offers only Bachelor's degrees. It is an institution that has long strived for growth and is open to innovation and international cooperation.
The first step towards supporting the improvement of the quality of teaching at CBU will be an initial visit to the partner university and finding out the structure and content of the study programmes – workshops to be hosted. The workshops will involve exchange of experience, sharing of examples of good practice and situational pedagogical analysis. Based on the exchange of views on innovation, thematic areas, subjects or teaching materials will be identified in which it is possible to innovate and implement the discussed starting points with regard to the attractiveness and applicability of the outputs.
Block teaching is also a deliverable during this visit - the first contacts with students and academics.
In addition, international working teams will be established for individual selected professional topics of mutual interest. The initial task in the field of science will involve looking at the existing and planned research and publication activities at both faculties in order to find the same or similar focus. Topics for bachelor's, master's and doctoral theses will be selected in cooperation with Czech and Zambian researchers – to be consulted with experts from the industry/with industrial experience who are members of the UCT team. Topics related to Zambian entities and locations can also be assigned within the project. Further cooperation can be established, for example, examinations and the establishment of international examination committees with virtual foreign participation.
The above is meant to lay the foundation for the development of long-term relationships and cooperation in pedagogical and scientific research activities.
In the next phase of the project, there will be a working visit and a professional excursion to the Czech Republic; other joint pedagogical activities. At this stage, possible corrections of methodologies and materials are planned. The project teams will also purposefully create space for the active involvement of women in project activities. The visit will conclude with an evaluation of the results of the existing cooperation and a proposed memorandum on future pedagogical and scientific research cooperation.
Both exchanges will include planned excursions, establishing further contacts in the academic and economic spheres and meetings with other stakeholders.
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