Erasmus+ Mobility Staff Exchange Program
As part of the academic exchange programs between the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the University of the South-Eastern Norway (USN), eight professors from the Faculty of Humanities, Sports, and Educational Science from USN visited the Department of Education at AUB from October 7-October 13, 2022. The team consisted of Dr. Hjørdis Hjukse (Vice Dean), Dr. Mette Bunting (Head of Department), Dr. Carl-Magnus Nystad (Project Manager), Dr. Tone Sunde (Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Science), Dr. May Janne Sandblast Husevag and Mrs. Theresa Solas (Team Primary and Lower secondary Education HIU), and Mrs. Ann Christin Ferrari Holme (Outdoor Education Program Coordinator).
During their visit, the team first presented an outline for (a) the Teacher Education Program, (b) the Outdoor Education Program, and (c) the Practicum Program at USN. A discussion ensued about establishing potent joint research collaborations between faculty of the two universities, as well as student and faculty mobility to be funded by the Erasmus+ Exchange Program. The USN team also met with Dr. Saouma Boujoaude (Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences), Dr. Rima Karami (Chair of the Department of Education), and the faculty from Department of Education. Moreover, the team met Dr. Lina Abou Habib (Director of Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship) who shared more about the main projects led by the institute. The USN team also visited the interim director of the office of International Program , Mrs. Basma Zeidan, and the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service at AUB where Mr. Rabih Shibli – its director – shared some insights on projects carried out by AUB students within their community and discussed the impact such activities have on developing students' entrepreneurship skills, leadership skills, ability to cope with the demands of the 21st century, and aptitude to become agents of change in their communities. Last but not least, Mrs. Ann Christin visited several classes in the Department, presented about the Outdoor Education Program to students, and highly encouraged BA students to join the program.