Launch of the NetCu Guidelines for networked Curricual

The NetCu project team launched the guidelines for organising networked curricula at the EADTU Conference in Paphos, 27-28 September. The aim of this publication is to offer a concise, “hands-on” handbook for all professionals who want to engage in setting up a networked curriculum for education. The research that was carried out indicates that there are numerous reasons and opportunities to start such collaboration. Read more in this policy paper. In combination with the Handbook the Compendium of showcases of networked curricula European wide was published as an online reference guide. In addition an ICT-Toolbox for supporting networked curricula is published on-line. This toolbox helps you to find the right ICT-instruments for supporting your networked curricula. Please find all info under www.networkedcurricula.eu and www.eadtu.eu/netcu.
NetCu - A case for European Networked Curricula - Networked and integrated curricula and virtual mobility
It is felt by the EADTU members that collaborative curricula at the master level are an answer on the need for high quality and specialized provisions, fit to the European citizen and workforce. They will enrich the students learning experience with complementary subjects and international collaboration skills, needed in all segments of business and societal life. They will link with institutional research strengths and broaden the offer for research-based lifelong learning in a cost-effective way.
For the past 2 years, EADTU has been running the NetCu-project on the development of international networked curricula. With the NetCu-project, EADTU has taken the lead in providing an analysis of transnational networked curricula in open and distance education, from which models and comprehensive guidelines were built. With the input from 15 partners, representing 20 European showcases, we have developed guidelines for organizing networked curricula in a structured way. To support the network curricula also technically, an ICT-Toolbox was developed with direct references for multimedia support.
The NetCu outcomes will therefore facilitate the establishment of international curricula and help:
a) to enhance the quality of the curricula and programme structure of European higher education institutions by providing more diverse study opportunities,
b) to strengthen the national and European position of the partner's course offers
c) to create a European identity of study programmes in open and distance education and blended learning
d) to successfully modernize universities
On the societal level universities will be equipped with an instrument that allows them to properly reflect on and respond to the new skills needed in a globalised, creative knowledge society. The incorporated methods will provide students and especially lifelong learners not only with the best academic knowledge available but also with an international experience and the (soft) skills needed for competitive participation in today's labour market.
Virtual mobility to support networked curricula
The NetCu project is also an important foundation for the future development of virtual mobility as a practical solution to the challenge of meeting the needs of students whose domestic and working lives make physical mobility impractical. Limits on physical mobility need not be barriers to offering our students an international experience. Technology now makes possible a rich mix of learning opportunities - virtual seminars, projects, internships and so on, from which we can begin to expand the mobility of credit and qualifications.
Through virtual mobility, without leaving home, so to speak, students can experience a richer curriculum than is available at their home institution, they can develop the skills of intercultural and international collaboration, they can learn to collaborate in virtual environments – a skill that increasingly employers are demanding of their staff, and at the same time, we can foster a sense of European or even global citizenship.
Traditional student mobility offers immersion and language learning, but virtual mobility offers complementary benefits. It is readily scalable and can overcome capacity constraints. It is extremely flexible, it can engage multiple universities in different countries simultaneously, it is accessible to students with special needs, it is cost effective, and its carbon footprint is small.
NetCu has been our latest initiative in a steady stream of work to turn the concept of virtual mobility into a practical reality.
Launch of the NetCu Handbook, Compendium of showcases and ICT-Toolbox
The NetCu Consortium has now finalized and launched the first Handbook on organising networked curricula and successfully creating internationally networked curricula in open and distance education and blended learning. Not restricted anymore to more or less coincidental personal contacts between staff members of different universities, but a strategic choice of a university at management level. By recognising the strength of a networked approach in curricula development at institutional and faculty level, a more structured and consistent approach can be taken. The NetCu Handbook that is based on the success factors of 20 running showcases will offer in combination with the on-line ICT-Toolbox the right guidance for educational policymakers.
Please find the NetCu publications as open source material under www.networkedcurricula.eu.
All details on the project you can find under www.eadtu.eu/netcu. Coordinator: George Ubachs.