PARTNERS

PARTNERS:

P1. University of Novi Sad (UNS) – coordinator

P2. Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm, Sweden (KTH)

P3. University of Southampton, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, Southampton, United Kingdom (UoS-ISVR)

P4. University of Nis (UNI)

P5. University of Kragujevac (UniKG)

P6. EDUCONS University, Sremska Kamenica (UESK)

P7. Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection, Novi Sad (SUPEP)

P8. Union of Employers of Vojvodina, Novi Sad (UPV)

P9. Institute for Occupational Health, Novi Sad (IOH)

ASSOCIATE PARTNERS:

P10. Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS)

P11. Young Acousticians Network (YAN)

Partner number P1

University of Novi Sad (UNS), Novi Sad, Serbia

The University of Novi Sad (UNS) was founded in 1960. It is the only state university in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, comprising 14 faculties and three research & developmental institutes. There are more than 50,000 students, 5,000 teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as 300 study programmes at all three academic cycles and all major fields of study and research.University of Novi Sad recognized the importance of international collaboration in education and research and hence actively participates in all available EU funding programmes (ERASMUS +, TEMPUS, HORIZON 2020, FP7, EUREKA, COST, IPA, SEE etc). UNS was the leading university in the country and the region with the highest number of TEMPUS projects which considerably helped in restructuring and reforming higher education processes, university structures and programmes, as well as policy making processes in the country. UNS has become recognized as a reform-oriented university, developing international cooperation with universities and other entities outside academia and having considerable experience in implementing academic mobility programs (CEEPUS, Campus Europae, Erasmus Mundus Action 2, ERASMUS+ Key Action 1. etc). Due to its reputation as one of the leading internationally-oriented universities in Serbia, UNS was entrusted the key coordinating role in the Priority Area 7 within the EU Strategy for the Danube Region: Developing the Knowledge Society through Research, Education and Information Technologies which significantly contributed to more intensive cooperation with the Danube Region universities through increased number of joint collaborations.International visibility and recognition are among the key strategic priorities. University of Novi Sad aims higher and pursues excellence in reserach and education.

The role in the SENVIBE project

UNS will act as the SENVIBE project Coordinator. UNS will lead WP9 – Project Management as well as WP5 concerned with the development, accreditation and implementation of a new Master programme in Vibro-Acoustics, which does not exist in Serbia. Expert work on the BA, MSc and LLL courses on Noise and Vibration (No&Vib) is entrusted to the Centre for Vibro-Acoustic Systems and Signal Processing CEVAS – officially accredited as a centre of excellence, and the Department of Environmental Engineering and Occupational Safety. Both of them belong to the Faculty of Technical Sciences (FTS) – the biggest engineering faculty in the wider region with 13 engineering departments. In context of ex-ante analysis, it is important to note that UNS and FTS have never had a No&Vib lab: as this lab will be established during the SENVIBE project, its impacts will be of paramount importance for students’ and teachers’ first-hand lab experience and knowledge.

Partner number P2

Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, is the largest, oldest and most international technical university in Sweden. Education and research spans from natural sciences to all the branches of engineering and includes architecture, industrial management and urban planning. The educational programmes lead to BA, MSc or PhD degrees in engineering, science, or architecture. There are a total of more than 12,500 undergraduate students and more than 1,800 active postgraduate students. KTH has just over 4,800 employees. KTH participates in over 80 FP7 projects and coordinates over a dozen of them. With its extensive experience in running several major international projects in research and education, KTH is actively executing major EU cooperation programmes such as Lifelong Learning (the earlier name), Tempus, Erasmus Mundus Action I and II and Erasmus+ among others and KTH welcomes over 1000 exchange students and 1500 International Master’s students each year. The overall goal for KTH is to be the leading European University providing education and research which can strengthen the position for Sweden as a nation of knowledge. Furthermore KTH collaborates through an extensive number of networks and bilateral exchanges and research agreements with universities all over the world. At the Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, which is part of the Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, there is a strong research environment in sound and vibration. The research focus is on aeroacoustics, materials and vibroacoustics. The group is or has been involved in 8-10 FP7 projects including two Marie Curie ITN. It has also coordinated three Tempus projects for development of course curricula and material in cooperation with Egypt. For many years an International Master programme in Sound and Vibration has been running, which is now a separate track within the Engineering Mechanics Master Programme.

The role in the SENVIBE project

KTH is one of two HEIs from Programme Countries. KTH will lead WP1 – Preparation for all courses, MSc programme and Hub, which will set the basis for the realisation of the whole project. This WP is one of the richest with respect to the number of separate activities, and it is entrusted to KTH due to their wide experience and expertise. KTH is deeply involved in all WPs: training activities, redesign of the existing and the development on new undergraduate and LLL courses as well as in the development of the MSc programme in Vibro-Acoustics, based on their own Master Program in Sound and Vibration, but taking into account the learning outcomes that will be defined for Serbia. KTH is also expected to provide guidance for the establishment of the No&Vib Hub, based on the experience of the hub they run at their university. KTH sees the possibility to further develop courses and teaching methodology for the courses given at KTH through participation in the SENVIBE consortium.

Partner number P3

University of Southampton, Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (UoS-ISVR), Southampton, United Kingdom

The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research at the University of Southampton is a world-class teaching, research and consulting centre for the study of all aspects of Sound and Vibration. Formed in 1963, the Institute is committed to improving our understanding of acoustics and vibration and their impact on the wellbeing of the community and the quality and performance of engineering products. The ISVR is renowned for its contributions to reducing noise and vibration in engineering applications – rail and aircraft noise for example – but also for fundamental work on understanding how humans hear sounds and process this information. It runs a number of teaching programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as a range of continuing education and industry focussed short courses. The ISVR is a centre for postgraduate and postdoctoral research carried out in four groups: Dynamics, Acoustics, Human Sciences and Signal Processing and Control. In addition, ISVR has strong links with the industry as it undertakes commercial consultancy work and contract research in acoustics and vibration for several Industries, Businesses, Government Departments and Agencies. ISVR has comprehensive laboratory and test facilities, including dynamics lab, audiology lab, anechoic and reverberation chambers, facilities for aeroacoustic noise and flow investigations and a large six axis whole body motion simulator and test equipment for experiments concerning the human response to vibration. In addition to the lab based research there is a wide range of specialist equipment and instrumentation for field measurements and data analysis.

The role in the SENVIBE project

ISVR is one of two HEIs from Programme Countries. ISVR will lead WP2 – Preparation related to resources, facilities and equipment, but is also included in all other WPs. ISVR has major involvement in the training activities, both in Serbia and in Southampton, redesign of the existing and the development on new undergraduate and LLL courses as well as in the development of the MSc programme in Vibro-Acoustics, based on their own Masters Programme in Sound and Vibration Studies (established for over 40 years), but taking into account the learning outcomes and requirements for Serbia. ISVR is expected to provide guidance for the establishment of the No&Vib Hub, given they have long-lasting cooperation with industry. Future collaboration through student exchanges will be enabled and the working relationships facilitated to promote additional joint projects.

Partner number P4

University of Niš (UNI), Nis, Serbia

The University of Kragujevac is a modern educational and research centre embracing almost all major areas of teaching and science. It presently comprises 12 faculties with 1,100 teaching staff members and 20,000 students. It offers a wide range of study programmes at all three study levels. Long-term bilateral cooperation with over 70 foreign universities is realized through various areas, which directly reflect the mutual priorities and the interests of contracting parties. The University also participates and encourages its faculties to apply for educational and research projects (ERASMUS+, HORIZON 2020, CEEPUS and in past TEMPUS, WUS, FP7 etc.). The Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Kraljevo (that participates in SENVIBE through UniKG) was established in 1987 and it includes Mechanical Engineering in bachelor, master and doctoral levels. Since 2012, the Faculty also teaches bachelor studies in Civil Engineering. The Faculty represents the pillar of development of metal, plastics and wood processing industry in its region, and carried out dozens of research and development projects. The research unit of the Faculty comprises ten research centres, one research laboratory and the innovation centre for information technologies. The main research facilities of the Faculty are Laboratory for Advanced Design Technologies, Laboratory for Acoustics, Laboratory for Air Pollution Control, Laboratory for Hydraulics and Pneumatics, and Laboratory for a Railway Vehicles Dynamics. At this moment, the Faculty is participating in two Horizon 2020 and 11 national projects in fields of Mechanical engineering, energy efficiency, environment protection, applied mechanics and mathematics. Besides, the Faculty participated in seven international research and development projects (FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, ASO and RSEDP programs) as well as in five international education projects (Tempus, Erasmus Plus, CEEPUS and CBC programs) financed by European Union.

The role in the SENVIBE project

The team from the Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering Kraljevo from UniKG will bring to the consortium their experience in teaching No&Vib course to mechanical and civil engineering students as well as their links with stakeholders in central Serbia. They will lead WP8 – Dissemination & Exploitation, which is entrusted to them given their previous involvement in project at the national and international level. They will be also actively involved in all other WPs, and especially related to the redesign of existing BA and LLL courses and the development of learning materials. Their labs are among the best in the involved Serbia HEIs, but the existing reverberation chamber will be improved during SENVIBE. The present equipment will also be enriched with complementary components to conduct vibrations and noise measurement of the present PULSE measurement and data acquisition system, while the vibration tester will enable portable measurements of vibrations.

Partner number P5

University of Kragujevac (UniKG), Kragujevac, Serbia

The role in the SENVIBE project

Partner number P6

University EDUCONS (UESK), Sremska Kamenica, Serbia

Faculty of Environmental Protection is a part of an integrated private university – University EDUCONS, with 26 accredited study programmes, which obtained the work permit in 2008, and in 2014 successfully completed the second cycle of accreditation of institutions and their study programs. Organized as an integrated university, EDUCONS consists of 11 faculties – eight independently established and three members with a legal entity. There are about 80 teaching and non-teaching staff members, and more than 2,000 students graduated from the University in the last five years. University EDUCONS is a member of the Alliance of Central Eastern European Universities. The goal of the Alliance is reflected in the promotion of knowledge as a key segment of the development of higher education institutions through: exchange of information on research and educational programmes; exchange of information on lectures, teaching aids, publications, joint organization and unification of curricula; the joint organization of seminars, conferences, congresses and other events; exchange of students at all levels of study; staff exchanges; joint publishing activities; joint applications for funding projects to EU institutions, regional organizations and the funds of the governments of the Central and Eastern Europe. Faculty of Environmental protection as a part of University EDUCONS is active in international cooperation in the field participate in educational and research projects such as Tempus, Erasmus + and IPA. In recent years, the Faculty of Environmental Protection successfully developed significant changes in the concept of knowledge transfer in the field of science teaching and implementing an e- and b- learning teaching concept. Faculty of Environmental Protection has become particularly recognized as an institution which deals with analysis, planning, management and remediation to minimize environmental degradation.

The role in the SENVIBE project

The Faculty of Environmental Protection is a part of EDUCONS. As such, it will be responsible to provide a review and experience related to the education in the field of No&Vib at related private HEIs in Serbia. Given their particular interest to implement a No&Vib course in the curricula, they will be included into its development and implementation, as well as in implementing e-learning teaching methodologies. In context of ex-ante analysis, they see this as a great opportunity to acquire new skills, knowledge and eqipment to teach future students and improve the study programme on environmental protection. They will also include lab exercises regarding noise measurements and use the ICT platform developed widely. Given the fact that Sremska Kamenica is only 3 km from Novi Sad, it is planned that they visit UNS to work in other facilities, such as the new reverberation chamber. They will also be included into the development of LLL courses and activities regarding the No&Vib Hub.

Partner number P7

Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection (SUPEP), Novi Sad, Serbia

EKOVOJVODINA was established in 2002 as the Provincial Secretariat for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development. According to the decision of the Assembly of Autonomous Province (AP) Vojvodina of 2011, it was transformed into Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection, whereas in 2016 into Provincial Secretariat for Urbanism and Environmental Protection. It covers different fields of spatial and urban planning and construction of buildings; regional spatial plans and spatial plans for special purpose; proposing of measures and activities for the Implementation Programme for the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia for the territory of the AP Vojvodina, regional spatial plans and spatial plans for special purpose areas and monitoring of their implementation; establishing of a public company for spatial and urban planning and designing and exercising of founder’s rights over it. The work relating to environmental protection, carried out by Division of Environmental Monitoring and Information System, covers the following fields: monitoring of quality of environment and information system, inspection control, crucial for implementation of regulations and prevention of uncontrolled environmental contamination, protection of natural resources and biological diversity, waste management, evaluation of the influence of facilities and work on the environment, etc. Quality cooperation has been established with institutions and organisations engaged in environmental protection at local, national and international level. Openness in communication with the public and availability of data on the environment have had provided a qualitative shift towards achieving EU standards in environmental protection. EKOVOJVODINA does not perform economic activities on the market and it is financed from the province budget and projects.

The role in the SENVIBE project

SUPEP is the representative of a local authority from Serbian northern province Vojvodina, whose responsibilities include monitoring of environmental noise and implementation of regulations and prevention of uncontrolled environmental contamination. As such, they will provide crucial experience for the creation of the SENVIBE Glossary to provide with respect to the interpretation of the relevant legal documents and regulations. They will lead WP6 concerned with the establishing the No&Vib Hub. They are also expected to provide possibilities for students’ practical work (Student Internships) as well as a list of practical subjects for the MSc theses that students can work on which is ex-ante seen as highly beneficial both for students and SUPEP as some local issues would be resolved. To strengthen their educational competencies, several members of their team will attend training courses run by the EU HEIs, and they will transfer ex-post this knowledge further to their colleagues.

Partner number P8

Union of Employers of Vojvodina (UPV), Novi Sad, Serbia

The Union of Employers of Vojvodina is a voluntary, independent, non-political and non-governmental organization that brings together employers, SMEs and companies in order to articulate common goals and interests, in order to accelerate economic and entrepreneurship development, to create favourable business environment and to contribute to market economy and corporate social responsibility. The UPV is the only legitimate representative of employers in Vojvodina in a social dialog with representatives of government and trade unions of Autonomous Province Vojvodina, (northern province of Serbia whose capital is Novi Sad). UPV was founded in 2010. Services are provided to 28,000 members: entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial associations, professional associations, small, medium and large enterprises. The Union is a member and participate in the work of the Provincial Social and Economic Council, the Provincial Council for Employment, Provincial Council for Safety and Health at Work and in several cities and municipals socio-economic councils in Vojvodina. It has a mandate to advocate for interests of employers with representatives of governments, trade unions and public at large, it negotiates any specific problems concerning economy and employers, analyzes and evaluates effects of the state of economy and entrepreneurship and issues related to work, labour; it makes ammendments to legislation and provide problems solutions to improve business sector competitiveness and entrepreneurship landscape performance. Union of employers of Vojvodina is working on continuous education – seminars for managers in the field of labor relations, the implementation of regulations, development and export promotion. Also, one of the regular activities is networking members with employers in the region.

The role in the SENVIBE project

UPV will bring their wide and extensive experience with the issues that their members are faced with in the No&Vib fields and will help identify the needs and gaps. They will contribute to the establishment of the No&Vib Hub for defining the framework for cooperation between the stakeholders and related activities, students’ practical work during the MSc studies in the SMEs and companies they gather. UPV will also provide practical subjects for the students’ MSc theses, based on their experience, facing issues, so that students can benefit from working on practical problems, while UPV will benefit from having their issues identified and analysed. This project will enable UPV members to become better acquainted with their legal obligations in the field of noise and vibration and thereby improve the performance of their activities. The project will establish links between the economy and higher education and, in this respect, ex-ante predictions are seen highly rewarding for UPV.

Partner number P9

Institute for Occupational Health, Novi Sad (IOH)

Institute for Occupational Health in Novi Sad is a preventative medical institution with main activities aimed at the provision of medical services to working-age population, assessment of occupational and environmental risks, various tests, self-education and other human resources and research and development. The Institute performs preventive medical examinations of workers at workplaces with raised health risks, medical evaluations, issuing of medical certificates for the employment of drivers of all categories, court and other expertise and consultative examination, functional testing, analyses necessary for the diagnosis of effects of occupational hazards and other etiological factors of expertise with an aim to assess work ability and recognition of occupational diseases, etc. The Institute deals with testing of working environment and conditions (microclimate, noise, vibrations, lighting, presence of harmful and hazardous substances, etc.) and based on that, the evaluation of actual conditions by means of current regulations in the Republic of Serbia, international standards and conventions in order to determine: jobs with increased health hazards, jobs that can be done by disabled persons, jobs requiring additional protective measures such as shortening of daily exposure, shortening of working hours, longer holiday leave and other things. Educational and research and development activities of the Institute are carried out at the Occupational Health Department of the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad. The Institute is also the teaching basis for the subject Occupational Medicine at the undergraduate medical study courses and for specializations in Occupational Medicine and for other medical disciplines within the graduate study courses.The Institute also provides training courses (advance training courses and specialisations) for health workers, health practitioners, workers who deal with occupational health and for others.

The role in the SENVIBE project

The Institute will be actively engaged in all of the project’s WPs. This commences with reviewing the state-of-the-art in Serbia, where their contribution is expected from providing a report and analysis of the currently existing retraining courses in the No&Vib fields, covering the whole Serbia. They will also lead the related WP4, concerned with the Development of LLL course, their development and implementation. Their contribution is also expected to the establishment of the No&Vib Hub for defining the framework for cooperation between the stakeholders and specifying the activities as they have valuable experience especially related to occupational safety and health. As the Institute provides quality services for minimising the damage caused by noise and vibration in a work environment, noise and vibration measurements and exposure assessments, the improvements of their related knowledge and experience through SENVIBE is seen as highly beneficial.

Partner number P10

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS)

An idependent non-budget institution, with a widely spread chamber network encompassing sixteen Regional Chamber of Commerce, two Provincial Chambers, Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry and nine representative offices abroad are supporting economy and the business community.

The role in the SENVIBE project

In accordance with their operational capacities and the huge national network that they have, the CCIS will help in dissemination as well as in establishing links with stakeholders from bussins and industry that might be interested in attending LLL course and joining the No&Vib Hub.

Partner number P11

Young Acousticians Network (YAN)

A non-profit initiative within the European Acoustics Association. The YAN is addressed to any young acoustician (under 40 years old) from worldwide, including MSc and PhD students, post docs, researchers, consultants and engineers. The YAN includes a network of local representatives, which is now covering the majority of European countries and also some non-European.

The role in the SENVIBE project

The representative from Serbia, Milan Stojiljkovic is included: https://euracoustics.org/yan/yan-local-representatives Given the principle objectives of the YAN, the representative of Serbia in this network will ensure that the SENVIBE project, its objectives, results and outcomes are disseminated and promoted around Europe to all YAN’s members.