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Virtual University Model in Finland - from strategy to practice

In connection with the EDEN Conference 15-17 June 2006 in Vienna, the FVU organized a workshop "Virtual University Model in Finland - from strategy to practice".

Date 15 June 2006, at 16.30 - 18.00 |  Venue University of Technology, Vienna

Topics discussed

The workshop focused on the five main competence areas of the Finnish Virtual University (FVU). These are:

• Strategies for educational ICT use and the FVU strategy service
• Flexible studies (student mobility) and related electronic access services
• Quality management in e-learning
• Staff training in pedagogical use of ICT
• Web-based tools for supporting learning and teaching.

After a short introduction to the each competence area the participants were invited to share their views and experiences in their respective countries. The following questions were discussed:

1) Strategies for educational use of ICT

• Do you have any specific strategies for educational use of ICT in your country at the national or institutional level?
• What are the benefits or disadvantages of having a specific strategy for ICT in education? Is it better to have only general strategies and include educational use of ICT in these general strategies?

2) Flexible studies (student mobility) and related electronic access services

• What do you think your current and future students would like to know about Finnish universities? What kind of web-based information services would be most helpful for someone planning to come to study in Finland?
• The FVU pools and distributes information on the educational provision offered by the Finnish universities and provides an electronic access service for students to apply for studies outside their home university (Flexible Study Rights Service). The FVU also offers web-based guidance for effective studying. Should there be similar services at the European level to promote student mobility and if so, how could they be arranged?

3) Quality management in e-learning

• How and in what context is e-learning quality discussed in universities in your country?
• How is e-learning quality linked to the overall management of learning and teaching quality in your country? Can you give some examples?

4) Staff training in pedagogical use of ICT

• Do you have national teacher training programs related to ICT in your country?
• What do you think are the benefits of nationwide training? Are there any disadvantages?

5) Web-based tools for supporting learning and teaching

• How are university teachers prepared to use web-based tools in your country? Are pedagogical training, support personnel, the services of instructional designers, or other resources offered?
• Is there collaboration in developing web-based tools among universities in your country? On the European level, what kind of collaboration would benefit your institution/country in the development of web-based tools?

To whom?

The workshop was targeted to those who want to learn about different virtual university models, and who are interested in planning and engaging in European co-operation in the five fields presented in the workshop.