On 12 and 13 October 2026, the University of Salerno participated in the Face-to-Face Meeting of Task 4.3 of the NEOLAiA European University Alliance, hosted by the University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic.
The meeting, organised within the framework of Work Package 4 (WP4) – Enhanced Mobility, brought together the Staff Training Coordinators from the partner universities involved in Task 4.3 – Launching and sustaining the NEOLAiA Staff Mobility for Training, which focuses on developing and strengthening international training and mobility opportunities for university staff. The University of Salerno was represented by Jasmine Fusco, NEOLAiA Staff Training Coordinator for UNISA and member of the WP4 Task Force.
The two-day meeting, coordinated by the University of Ostrava, which leads Task 4.3, focused on reviewing the activities carried out so far and planning future initiatives, with particular attention to strengthening the nine Expert Staff Networks, working groups that promote collaboration and the exchange of knowledge, skills and experiences among staff from the partner universities.
In particular, the University of Salerno coordinates the Librarians and Open Science network, which focuses on collaboration among university libraries and the promotion of Open Science. The other networks include General Services, coordinated by the University of Ostrava; Academic Support Offices, by the University of Tours; Career Counsellors, by the University of Suceava; PR and Communication, by Šiauliai State Higher Education Institution; Responsible Internationalisation, by Örebro University; Student Services, by the University of Nicosia; HR Experts, by Bielefeld University; and Strategy and Evaluation Experts, by the University of Jaén.
In addition to coordinating its own network, UNISA also participates in the other eight Expert Staff Networks, with at least two university staff members involved in each network, actively contributing to the initiatives promoted by the Alliance.
During the meeting, participants discussed the organisation and management of the networks, with the aim of improving their effectiveness, strengthening staff engagement and ensuring the long-term sustainability of their activities.
Considerable attention was devoted to developing physical, blended and virtual mobility opportunities through individual and group training, seminars, workshops, webinars, job shadowing activities and peer-learning initiatives. Particular emphasis was placed on organising Staff Weeks and encouraging university staff to participate in these initiatives, which provide valuable opportunities for international training and professional exchange.
The Staff Training Coordinators also shared the procedures adopted by their respective institutions for managing staff mobility, discussing selection criteria, organisational arrangements and available support tools to identify common solutions that could facilitate participation in the activities.
Another important area of work involved updating the Task 4.3 Task Card to align its objectives and planning with the needs of the networks and the organisational capacities of the partner universities. The participants also began revising the feedback survey, which will be administered at the end of each activity to collect participants' evaluations and suggestions, supporting the continuous improvement of future initiatives.
The meeting also addressed the harmonisation of procedures for issuing the Certificate of Attendance, intended as an additional document confirming participation in training and mobility activities, both in person and online.
The Face-to-Face Meeting concluded with the definition of a shared action plan and commitments for the Spring Semester, aimed at planning training activities and establishing the responsibilities of the partner universities. The plan includes the organisation of seminars, workshops and Staff Weeks, the development of a structured Virtual Offer, the promotion of Individual and Collective Training, and blended mobility initiatives.
The University of Salerno's participation in the Ostrava meeting reaffirms its commitment to the NEOLAiA Alliance, contributing to the development of international training opportunities and the professional growth of university staff through cooperation and the exchange of best practices among European higher education institutions.
Check out the nine networks: Staff Networks - NEOLAiA - European University Alliance
