Cross-border cooperation between Velikiye Luki and Tartu Universities on implementation of common European education concept at regional level

Background: Russia joining the Bologna Agreement in 2003, and the fact that VLGAFC and TSU have not been involved in the Bologna process at the regional level up to the present day. This is a serious factor that prevents from training highly skilled specialists of modern level for the near border regions. The purpose of this project is the successful entering of VLGAFC and TSU as regional universities into the European educational and research environment. The project is aimed directly at university professors and teachers, scientific personnel of universities, doctoral students, and, indirectly, at students and specialists in the sphere of physical education and sports. The general purpose is to create a system of cross-border university co-operation in the implementation of terms of the Bologna declaration. The specific goal is to implement a two-level system of higher education in VLGAFC, to harmonize educational programs and educational technologies between VLGAFC and TSU. The main actions: the subject courses of lectures on the implementation of terms of the Bologna declaration; bilateral training of teaching staff and participation of university employees in seminars, online conferences, congresses at the regional and international level; bilateral exchange of doctoral students; training of university researchers and employees; joint scientific research in the sphere of the sports physiology; conducting of the Ist International Cross-Border Conference. Expected results: joint electronic informational resources: a database of research results (1); a web-site (1); an intra-univeristy education quality control system (1). Joint electronic educational resources: online lectures (4); remote lectures (10); a research guide (1); a teaching guide (1); educational subject tests (10); scientific manual (1); joint educational program (1). Joint publications: research guides (2); a teaching guide (1); articles in international journals (3); collections of materials of online conferences (4) and international conferences (2), courses of lectures (3) in Russian, Estonian and English. The creation of a cross-border professional educational and research network in the sphere of physical education and sports between the universities; the introduction of a two-level system of higher education and the system of test marks in VLGAFC as a result of license obtaining. Long-term effects: the contribution to the development of a modern higher education system in Pskov region and Tartumaa; to the training of highly qualified staff in the sphere of physical education and sports in the near-border regions; to the facilitation of the establishment of contacts and cross-boundary networks among universities of the near-border regions to cultivate and maintain interest in further development of the mutual cross-border co-operation in order to implement the Bologna declaration.