UBS encourages international mobility among its staff

UBS encourages international mobility among its staffSince UBS joined the European EMERGE alliance, international mobility opportunities have multiplied and are now available to all university staff.

The UBS International Office (SAI) has been offering staff mobility opportunities through the Erasmus+ programme for around ten years.

This Erasmus+ programme initiative enables staff to undertake training mobility at a European higher education institution or in a company as part of professional development activities.

Since UBS joined the EMERGE alliance, which brings together nine universities, the number of mobility opportunities has increased and is now also available to administrative staff. This year, six people will be able to benefit from a European experience at one of the alliance's universities.

Last year, Véronique, director of the UBS foundation, and Yann, a research engineer in scientific computing, were able to take part in the programme.

During her stay at the University of Limerick in Ireland, Véronique was able to take part in a staff week on the theme of O.P.E.N.: Opportunities in Internationalisation at Home. Alongside this programme, she also enjoyed working sessions and got to know the UL Foundation team. ‘A great team that gave me the warmest Irish welcome in a friendly and open atmosphere!’

Véronique together with members of Limerick University Foundation

Yann, meanwhile, completed his training mobility programme in a research laboratory at the University of Limerick specialising in composite structure fire behaviour. The week was therefore an opportunity for him to learn but also to share his expertise. ‘We took the opportunity to prepare research topics with a view to setting up collaborative projects in the future.’

At Bernal Institute, Yann accompanied by lecturer and researcher Giovanni Zucco, one of the trainers and research liaison of Paul Weaver’s group.

To continue promoting the EMERGE alliance, Véronique has lots of ideas and new collaborations with the international office (SAI) that will take shape in the autumn, with the first initiative on Tuesday 13 October (link to news item), when the Ouvre Boite discussion will focus on the topic: "Do you have to leave to succeed? "

Another initiative is the continuation of relations with the UL Foundation and, why not, with other foundations of EMERGE member universities.

For Yann, this ERASMUS+ training mobility programme with an EMERGE partner should lead to joint research work. There is also a desire to forge closer ties with another EMERGE partner in order to assess the possibilities of setting up a larger-scale project on the Atlantic coast.