Virtual Academic Mobility Guidelines

Draft for approval · ARCTIS-05 · Version 0.1
Prepared 19 October 2026 · Approval and effective dates: pending

Virtual academic mobility is a structured online programme of learning, research and academic exchange. It may serve academic staff or students through distinct, individually agreed pathways.

1 Pathways

Academic staff may exchange teaching methods, contribute to seminars or develop research and learning resources. Students undertake supervised learning and collaborative tasks; doctoral candidates may agree a research-focused programme.

Attending a single open seminar is not, by itself, completion of a mobility programme. Membership and mobility admission remain separate.

2 Application and programme agreement

Applicants provide their affiliation or study status, interests, proposed outcomes, availability and any sending-institution requirements through the virtual mobility application.

Before participation begins, agree the pathway, objectives, dates, total workload, working language, online platform, supervisor, meeting schedule, independent tasks and assessment criteria. Duration and hours are individual; no standard credit allocation is assumed.

3 Online participation

The programme combines scheduled interaction with independent or collaborative work. Participants need access to the agreed platform and should raise access needs in advance. Schedule notices specify the relevant time zone.

Participants keep an activity record and receive feedback. Access links, personal information, restricted data and other participants’ materials must not be redistributed without permission. Recording is separately agreed.

4 Outputs and assessment

Possible outputs include a learning portfolio, corpus or terminology resource, teaching activity, research brief or academic presentation. The chosen output must relate to the stated objectives.

The supervisor reviews the output and participation record against the agreed criteria. Completion documentation reports the actual programme; it does not imply a degree, qualification or successful examination.

5 Institutional recognition

Credit transfer, ECTS or recognition by a sending institution require its prior approval and any applicable agreement. ARCTIS membership or participation alone does not confer these benefits.

Any financial, technical or access conditions are communicated before acceptance. The programme does not imply funding or a funded Erasmus mobility arrangement unless a specific authorised scheme states this.

6 Changes and records

Material changes, interruptions and withdrawal are recorded with the supervisor. Participants may raise concerns with the coordinator, Director or relevant University channel.

Required records normally include an application, agreed learning or research programme, activity log, final output and assessment. The forms pack supports these records; compulsory institutional forms take precedence.

These guidelines remain a draft until approved.