Advancing Curriculum Innovation: NSIS Didactic and Scientific Working Group Meeting in Brașov

As part of the ongoing implementation of the NSIS Erasmus+ Project, the consortium held its first Didactic and Scientific Working Group (DSWG) Meeting in the historic city of Brașov, Romania, from June 23 to 26, 2025. The meeting was hosted by UTBV (Transilvania University of Brașov) and brought together academic representatives and curriculum experts from all partner institutions.

The focus of the meeting was to ensure the harmonized development of the NSIS Modular Curriculum, designed to equip Information Specialists across India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal with essential research, digital, and transferable skills that directly support innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development.

The DSWG meeting was structured around strategic priorities outlined in the approved project proposal. Discussions, workshops, and working sessions focused on:

• Development of the NSIS ECTS Module Training Programme

• Harmonization of Curriculum Contents across Partner Institutions

• Drafting of Guidelines for Didactic and Scientific Organisation

• Intgration of NSIS Curriculum into HEI Structures and Academic Calendars

• Design and Production of Harmonised Didactic Materials

• Establishment of Quality Assurance and Evaluation Strategies

Throughout the four-day meeting, participants engaged in collaborative sessions to:

• Map out the modular structure and learning outcomes for each NSIS module;

• Align content with international standards, particularly the EU Tuning Methodology;

• Ensure that academic, pedagogical, and regional relevance are embedded in all aspects of the curriculum;

• Define the framework for integration into national qualifications systems and university accreditation pathways.

Special attention was given to creating a cohesive structure across countries while allowing for institutional flexibility and contextual adaptation.

Participation and Outcomes

Two designated participants from each consortium partner attended the meeting, including representatives from:

• Europe: Ireland, Romania and Germany

• Asia: India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal

The working group successfully agreed on a preliminary curriculum structure, assigned development responsibilities, and established a shared calendar for content production, internal review, and pilot implementation.

In addition, the DSWG drafted early guidelines for quality assurance, focusing on both content relevance and didactic excellence, to be further refined in cooperation with the WP6 Quality Team.

Following this productive meeting, partners will:

• Begin drafting their assigned modules

• Share first versions for peer review by late autumn 2025

• Prepare didactic materials and internal implementation plans

• Coordinate with the NSIS Online Learning Platform Team to ensure digital alignment

The NSIS curriculum, once finalised, will be piloted across partner HEIs in November 2026.

The Brașov DSWG Meeting marks a crucial step forward in building an internationally harmonised, regionally responsive training programme for Information Specialists in South Asia. The consortium extends its thanks to the hosts at UTBV for their hospitality, excellent organisation, and academic leadership.