1st Series
Topic: “Getting Published in High Impact Journals”
Som Naidu, Associate Professor (Learning Transformations), Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia
Topic: “Developing virtual Collaborative Learning Collaborative Harnessing the Power of Social Media”
Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Distinguished Professor, University of New Mexico, USA
Topic: “Current Status of the Japanese Institutional Repository in Open Access Activity and its Further Collaboration with Sri Lanka”
Kazu Yamaji, Associate Professor, National Institute of Informatics, Japan
Topic: “The Essentials of “MOOC” Phenomena: The Prospects for “After-MOOCs””
4. Tsuneo Yamada, Professor in Department of Informatics & Center for Open Distance Education, The Open University of Japan
Topic: “Learner support: reflections on paradigms, models and pedagogical approaches for 21st century learners in Higher Education”
5. Godson Gatsha, Educational Specialist in Higher Education, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWahzMaAA&list=PLkgf3F2zyuJQCu0x0cThF7535r3Y6FpS1&index=10
Topic: “Making the University Relevant”
6. Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Founding Chair, LIRNEasia
Topic: “Distance Education and its relevance to job market”
7. Naveed A. Malik, Founder Rector, Virtual University of Pakistan
Topic: “The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Invent It”
8. Kathryn Chang Barker, Consulting Education Futurist and Strategist & Higher Education Expert Consultant at Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), State of Qatar
2nd Series
Topic: “Point-of-Care Devices for Diagnosing Infectious Diseases”
1. Wamadeva Balachandran, Research Professor, Brunel University London, UK
Topic: “Taming Knowledge Explosion through Conceptual Teaching and Learning”
2. Nancy Ridenour, Dr. Jenny Vacek & Dr. Judy Liesveld, University of New Mexico, USA
3rd Series
Topic: “The meeting of so many nationalities with such earnestness of purpose”
1. Emerita Margaret Allen, Professor in gender studies, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
Topic: “The Futures of Distance Education”
2. Ormond Simpson, Visiting fellow, London University
Topic: “Meeting of the minds: A psychological perspective on culture and international education”
3. Brian Haas PhD, Assistant Professor of psychology, University of Georgia, USA.
Topic: “Quality Assurance and Sustenance in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): an overview”
4. Srinivasa Rasgavan, Professor, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science and the chair of the School of Library & Information Science, Bharathidasan University, India
4th Series
Topic: “Microbiome, the future of Medicine”
1. Janaki Lelwala Guruge, Senior Research Scientist, Center of Genome Science and Systems Biology, Washington University School of medicine, USA.
Topic: “Mainstreaming Disaster Education and Research in Open and Distance Learning” (8th February 2018)
2. Khondoker Mokaddem Hossain, PhD –
Link:
Topic: “Ethics in Psychology: Global and Sri Lankan contexts”
3. Jeanne Marecek, Senior Research Professor in psychology, Swarthmore College, USA
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNCcR3GreA&list=PLkgf3F2zyuJQCu0x0cThF7535r3Y6FpS1&index=16
Topic: “The Philosophy and Practices that are Revolutionizing Education and Science”
4. Rajiv Jhangiani, Special Advisor of the Provost on Open Education, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
5th Series
Topic: “Latest Trends in High Rise Building Design & Construction”
1. Priyan Mendis, Senior professor of infrastructure Engineering in University of Melbourne, Australia, Leader of Advance Protective Engineering Structure, Director of Australian Research Council
Topic: “Use of Learning Analytics in ODL”
2. Bart Rienties, Professor of Learning Analytics, The Open University, UK
Topic: “Trends in Open, Distance, and Online Learning in Indonesia – with a specific reference to University Terbuka”
3. Aminudin Zuhairi, Senior Lecturer of Open and Distance Education, University of Terbuka, Indonesia
Topic: “An Overview of MOOCs in India”
4. Jeetendra Pande, Assistant Director-Research, Assistant Professor- Computer Science Department, Utkan open University, India
6th Series
Topic: “Affordable Health Care Solutions for Developing Countries: Design & Development of Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering” (22nd January 2020)
1. Muhammad Yar
Link:
Public Lectures by Vising Fellows
Topic: “Learner Support Services”
1. Saumya, Assistant Professor at School of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India
Topic: “Quest for functional strategies in online teaching: policy approach”
2. Md. Fakhrul Islam Patwary, Assistant Professor at School of Social Science, Bangladesh Open University
OUSL is a member of the Asian Association of Open Universities and in 2020 and we will host the 34th Annual Conference of Asian Association of Open Universities in 2021.
TRAVEL TO FARM PROGRAM INFORMATION 2022
Travel to Farm is a non-profit organization specializing in agricultural exchange. We offer a “learning by doing” program on Danish farms and the opportunity to get more practical experience in the green sector. Working “hands on” in the agricultural and horticultural sector gives the participant the opportunity to learn more about new technologies and management within the desired field. Travel to Farm offers training periods between 3-12 months which gives the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience to compliment the education
Types of placements and best time of arrival
♦ Agriculture
Dairy cattle – all year
Slaughter pigs and sows – all year
Crops (few) – only from May to October
Mixed dairy and crops – April to November
Mixed pigs and crops – April to November
♦ Horticulture
Greenhouse flowers – all year
Greenhouse vegetables – April to November
Plant nursery (trees and shrubs) – all year
Orchard – March to November
Regular program NON-EU applicants
Age: | 18-29 years. Trainees younger than 25 years of age are preferred by hosts. |
Education: | Student - have to be enrolled in Agricultural/horticultural College, Agricultural/horticultural Technical or Vocational School or Agricultural/horticultural University |
Practical experience: | Proven experience of practical farm work in the requested type of placement. |
Driving licence: | Preferably for tractor as well as car - tractor license mandatory for crop placements, not a requirement for husbandry placements. |
Language: | Good spoken English and have passed an English IELTS or Cambridge test level A2. (We will also conduct an interview with the applicant before accepting him/her on the program). |
Duration: | 8-12 months - depending on type of placement |
Wages and tax: | Before taxes - DKK 11.697 per month. You will pay DKK 2,000 per month for lodging. Tax deduction is generally about 48 per cent. Tax rules are frequently changing and the percentage of tax paid depends on age, country of residency and education. Net payment after house rent for most will be between DKK 6.500 and 7.500 (850 and 1.000 EUR/month). The salary will increase after 6 months. |
Insurance: | See "Health care and additional insurance" for more info on Insurance. |
Application: | Minimum 4 months before the wished date of arrival in Denmark |
Visa: | Intern/trainee visa |
General working hours, holiday and free time
The normal working time is 37 hours per week. Work exceeding this is paid by free time 1:1 or in cash with a minimum of 107 DKK/hr before tax, which of these is decided by the host farmer. Trainees from overseas are not allowed to have planned overtime. They are though allowed to work overtime in the busy season. The trainee has a minimum of 5 weeks holiday per year (2,5 day per month) + an additionally 6 days per year.
Board and lodging
The host will make sure you have a place to stay when in Denmark. You will pay DKK 2000 rent per month. The host is not allowed to deduct the rent from the trainee’s salary, so the trainee will be asked to pay the rent to the host each month.
Most placements are self-catering. It is though tradition at many farms to have morning coffee together – especially at placements with animals.
Health care and additional insurance
The trainee is covered by the Danish public health insurance from the day of arrival/registration at the municipality, meaning that visits to doctors and hospitalization are free. Medical treatment and dentist is paid partly by the trainee. In addition to the public health insurance the trainee will have to pay for an insurance covering repatriation, call of family and accidents during his/her free time. The price is DKK 75 per month for EU trainees, which is to be paid for the whole period together with the administration fee. For overseas trainees, the insurance price is DKK 90 per month.
The host is obliged to have an accident insurance which covers employees during work hours
Probation period
The first month is a probation period. During this period, the host farmer as well as the trainee can decide to stop the cooperation. After the first month the contract cannot be cancelled unless both trainee and host agree to it.
Arrival
Arrival should be on a weekday no later than 13.00 in Copenhagen Airport, as this gives trainees the possibility to come to our office at around 15.00 and travel to the host farm no later than 17.00, which makes it possible to reach almost any place in Denmark before 22.30.
Trainees must travel from the airport to our office by themselves, but they get a written instruction from Travel to Farm. We arrange the train travel to the host and the host picks the trainee up at the local train station. We buy the train ticket from Copenhagen to the host farm and take the trainee to the train/ make sure that the trainee gets on the right train. The Copenhagen Central station is just opposite our office.
In some cases, the trainee travel directly to the host farm. This can only be done in agreement with Travel to Farm.
Trainees should not arrive during weekends or Danish holidays unless agreed with Travel to Farm.
Social happenings
4-5 times per year Travel to Farm will arrange gatherings for the trainees in Denmark. It is voluntary to attend and is self-paid if attending. It is the perfect opportunity to meet other trainees, learn about Danish culture and see our wonderful country. In 2022 we will have a one- day trip to Roskilde (the city of the Vikings) in February, a one-day canoeing tour at Hinge Sø in April, a BBQ in July, the study tour in Copenhagen in September and Danish ‘Julehygge’ in end- November
Travel to Farm administration fee
For all stays DKK 5,000 including VAT.
Cancellation
If an applicant cancels after he/she has been accepted on the program, there will be a cancellation fee of 100 Euro.
If an applicant cancels after a placement is found (alle applicants) and the application process for a work permit is started (for overseas applicants), you will have to pay a cancellation fee of DKK 1,500,- (200 EUR) + the fee for immigration.
If Travel to Farm is not able to find a placement no later than 3 weeks before the requested time of start, there will be no cancellation fee.
The application
Motivational letter in English
Copy of passport
Copy of driver’s license (if relevant)
A reference – copy of original + an English translation
For skilled farmer EU applicants (non-students): educational documents showing what he/she studied and when he/she graduated – copy of original + English translation.
For overseas applicants: language test and a list of subjects – copy of originals + an English translation.
For overseas applicants only: Immediately after placement information is received, the trainee must apply for a residence and work permit at the Danish Embassy in the trainee’s home country. We will send an invitation. Processing time is up to 60 days plus waiting time before handing in the application and getting the sticker in the passport after the visa is granted.
If you have any question please don’t hesitate to contact ird@ou.ac.lk
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOUR TRAINEES IN DENMARK
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