The National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) granted funding for the project "GO INternational, go Great! Development of UMCS in the field of servicing foreign staff and increasing research potential” (acronym: GO-ING, contract number PPI/WTP/2022/1/00182/U/00001) as part of the Welcome to Poland program. The project is implemented by the UMCS Center for International Cooperation. Financial resources in the amount of PLN 150,120.00 have been planned for a number of activities from June 1, 2023 until May 31, 2025.
The project assumed three activities:
1. Developing the existing Welcome Center for Foreign Academics at UMCS.
2. Providing MSCA advisory services.
3. Training, meetings, contacts and promotional activities in Poland and abroad.
The main goal of the GO-ING project is to increase the level of internationalization of universities in the field of research scientific objectives, which will be achieved by implementing the following specific objectives:
1. Further professionalization of the process of servicing foreign scientists at UMCS: implementation of 3 foreign study visits to Welcome Centers for a total of 6 University employees.
2. Inviting foreign scientists to UMCS, using external financing for joint research activities: MSCA Schools and submitting 3 applications to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships program in 2024.
3. Increased knowledge of foreign scientists about the possibilities of research cooperation with UMCS as an attractive cooperation partner: organization of a networking meeting combined with workshops for scientists and UMCS staff.
The project team relies on established international contacts (including within the ATHENA alliance, Visiting Professors at various Faculties), and will also establish new cooperation (open recruitment of scientists to the MSCA School).
As part of the project, the planned results are an increase in the quality of service for foreign guests at UMCS (results of the evaluation of the team's activities), an increase in the number of foreign scientists and teachers served, as well as an increase in applications in MSCA programs. Additionally, the result will be an increase in the visibility of UMCS on the international arena (networking meeting on internationalization).
