The University of Northampton has taken part in an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility (ICM) project with Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in Kazakhstan, looking at the shared theme of entrepreneurship education.
Through this ICM project the University of Northampton hopes to further strengthen its research and teaching links with the region, already gained through their business school’s involvement in a successful Researcher Links project with a university in Kazakhstan, supported by the British Council Newton-Al Farabi Fund. As a staff-only project, it explored the entrepreneurship teaching practice and strategies in both universities.
Finding partners
The University of Northampton chose to partner with AlmaU on an ICM project as it had already established a connection with them, following a visit by Sandy MacDonald, from the Faculty of Business and Law, who was in Almaty visiting a PhD student at another university. Following discussions with staff at AlmaU, Sandy found that both universities had an established commitment to the teaching of entrepreneurship and went back to attend a conference on the subject that AlmaU hosted. Once home, Sandy talked to colleagues and found there was considerable interest in a partnership. Wheels were put in motion to apply for an ICM project with AlmaU.
The project
The application was successful and secured more than 43,000 euros in Erasmus+ funding. Staff have taken part in teaching and programme leadership meetings and held seminars in each other’s universities, meeting local students and staff to find out about their entrepreneurship teaching provision, their education policy and their entrepreneur support systems. They have also observed in classrooms and had meetings with local entrepreneurs and members of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurship.
Project highlights:
- Working with students on their ideas for starting businesses
- Working with staff in a very different cultural context
- Visiting business support organisations outside the university
- Taking part in a roundtable with entrepreneurs and academics from other regional state-owned and private universities
- Introducing the Kazakh partners to social enterprises operating in Northamptonshire
- Presenting at the university's internal conference and meeting other members of the faculty
- Taking a class in such a different environment and getting great feedback from Kazakh students
A deeper understanding
Staff from the UK found many differences in the teaching style and practice at AlmaU. Sandy explains that they found the curriculum to be much more centrally controlled and academic staff worked extremely long hours, sometimes finishing at 11.00 at night! However, the experience has increased her and her colleagues’ understanding of the way entrepreneurship is taught and embedded differently in the curriculum of the two universities.
“We have new ideas to bring to our own teaching. We have developed cultural skills as well as discipline-related skills,"she said. "Taking part in an Erasmus+ activity has deepened our understanding of our own practice as well as giving us insights into the ways this is developing in a very different cultural, economic and social context. It has definitely helped our university in its internationalisation.”
Overcoming language barriers
AlmaU is based in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan, a beautiful and vibrant city with an ethnically diverse population. Russian and Kazakh are the languages spoken. Sandy says that the local people were very friendly and helpful and everywhere they went people would speak to them to try out their English skills.
“Personally speaking it has made me very conscious of the need to learn a minimum of the language spoken in partner countries just to communicate better, so I have started to learn Russian. I think it has given everyone confidence in dealing with new and unexpected situations. It has also given us the opportunity to work with interpreters, with all the complications that entails, and to meet staff at all levels plus connect with people outside the university from very different cultures to our own.”
I think it has given everyone confidence in dealing with new and unexpected situations.
Cultural awakening
The UK staff loved the huge and vibrant bazaar which sold wonderful fresh produce and everything else besides and discovered that they make very delicious chocolate in Almaty! AlmaU has two traditional yurts set up in the grounds which offered an insight into nomadic culture.
They were also treated to a visit to the State Opera House to see the ballet, and a concert was a highlight of their final visit. Sandy and her colleagues felt that they developed their intercultural skills through working with their partner colleagues and meeting people outside the university.
Looking to the future
As a result of this project the University of Northampton is now looking to develop a training package for entrepreneurship teaching through a much larger project, with their original partners as well with other HEIs and training organisations in Kazakhstan and outside the region. Ultimately it's hoped that the project will underpin a future bid under the Erasmus+ Capacity Building strand, a Key Action 2 activity, to provide a Joint Master’s Degree in International Entrepreneurship.
Development and design of the curriculum for the AlmaU Master’s Degree will held to develop the entrepreneurial mind-set of students and their knowledge of business strategy and planning, and provide an understanding of the nature of business. For both universities it will have an impact at an institutional level and further their internationalisation strategies. For Kazakhstan, seeking to develop entrepreneurship nationally, the project will play a role in enhancing their curriculum for entrepreneurial education.
Sandy concludes that the experience was very worthwhile, great fun and much more!
I would certainly recommend it to others. You need to go with an open mind and be prepared for misunderstandings, confusion at times, but you will come out with a better understanding of your own work and of other cultures. You will gain some good new friends and colleagues too!
UK higher education institutions looking for partners in countries beyond Europe should visit our Partner Opportunities webpage.
