Virtual University Initiatives and Challenges in the Baltic Sea Area

April 7, 2005

Eija RistimäkiHead of Communications

FVU Service Unit

Baltic IT&T 2005 Forum, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills, 7 April 2005

ContentsEija Ristimäki, FVU

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills, 7 April 2005

FVU – who are we? Northern eDimension Action Plan eSkills & eLearning action line Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area Scenarios for Co-operation Challenges

Who are we?

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

The FVUis a partnership of

the 21 universities in Finland

to promote online learning and teaching

to provide online information resources

to develop compatible information systems

to develop the basic infrastructure of full- scale electronic access services

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Equality and accessibility as in-built work culture

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

FVU’s way of doing things - networked based education

- electronic services enhancing collaboration

Equality Accessibility

Information SocietyProgramme

for Education,

Training and Research2004-2006

FVU’s strategy 2005-2010

Major

curricula reform

going on

in Finnish

universities

European standards–Bologna process

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Northern Dimension as EU policy programme

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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Northern Dimension Area

Northern eDimension Action Plan

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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Agreed by the Heads of Government on the 5th

Baltic Sea States Summit in Estonia, 21 June 2004

Can play an important role in the follow-up of the Lisbon strategy to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic

knowledge-based society in the world with improved social cohesion and employment by

2010

eSkills & eLearning action line

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

Eija Ristimäki, FVU

Focus areas

Digital literacy for learning and for the labour market

Virtual Campuses

Following the application of recognition and validation schemes (ECTS) on eLearning

Virtual universities for continuous training and professional development

Stocktaking of e-learning opportunities in the Baltic Sea region

Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area…

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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Seminar on Virtual University Education and Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area, 21 March

Organized by the FVU andthe Finnish Ministry of Education

Invited speakers from St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University Estonian eUniversity eUniversity at the University of Latvia Baltic Sea Virtual Campus FVU and Aleksanteri Institute - Finnish Centre

for Russian and East European Studies

…Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

Baltic Sea Virtual Campus

Pilot courses inTransregional Management - 33 students from Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden and Denmark - 5 modules finished, 5 in progress Industrial Engineering - 12 students

- 3 modules - 6 seminars

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…Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University

Partners in FinlandUniversity of JoensuuLappeenranta University of TechnologyUniversity of KuopioUniversity of TampereUniversity of Helsinki

Partners in RussiaSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. Petersburg State Polytechnical UniversityPetrozavods State UniversityThe European University at St.Petersburg

…Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University

Joint programmes in International Relations Information Technology Business, Economics, Corporation Law Public Health History Forestry and Bio-energy

Scenarios for co-operation…

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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exchange of good practices

exchange of e-learning tools

exchange of e-learning material

exchange of modules, learning objects

joint courses

joint master’s degree programmes

University University University University University

… scenarios for co-operation

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

Eija Ristimäki, FVU

thematic networks

common quality criteria

standardization

indicators: effectiveness & efficiency of eLearning

technological co-operation

…

University University University University University

Challenges

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

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how to cut costs

Collaborationacross the

borders quality issues- quality costs money

productisation

differences in regulations

what will happen after project period

content issues cultural and semanticdifferences

sustainability

Is there funding available ?

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

Eija Ristimäki, FVU

EU funding programmes

IST Programme 6th Framework

Programme Interreg III Tacis

Nordic Council of Ministers

International financialinstitutions

FVU portal – Further information

Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

Follow-up and further actions at http://www.virtualuniversity.fi

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