New perspectives for an inclusive open education Virtual University of Tunis

Houda Bouslama Going Global May,2016

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Université Virtuelle de Tunis

It was initially created in 2002 to spread distance-education, lifelong learning and foster ICT integration

in higher education by providing frequent training programmes to Tunisian public institutions and universities.

UVT offers its own training and delivers diplomas and certificates

UVT a unique

structure

Digital  production  

and  dissemination  

Technical  Infrastructure  

Support  to  institutions  

Training        Teachers/  Trainers  

OER  Free  access    to  resources  

E-­‐Learning  Masters  Bachelors  Certificates    

Continuing  Education  and    Certification    

UVT  Missions  

§ Providing on-line initial training

§  Providing on-line curricula to

universities

§  Producing digital and innovative

pedagogical resources

§  Training trainers ( ICT, pedagogy

and didactics..)

§  distributing digital content and

pedagogical resources

§  Providing and managing platforms

§  Creating and developing

applications and solutions for e-

learning

§  Coordinating and controlling

access centres ,

§ Videoconferencing and digital

production laboratories

Educational  Mission   Technical  Mission  

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Digital Tunisia 2018 Strategic vision: “make Tunisia an international digital reference and ICT a pillar of

social and economic development.”

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The National strategic plan aims to foster economic growth and reduce unemployment. q Ensure social Inclusion and bridge digital divide.

q  Promote the widespread use of ICTs in education and digitising curricular content .

q  Move towards e-Government service-oriented, fair, transparent and efficient. q  Ensure the reduction of unemployment and encourage job creation in the digital sector , Offshoring and creation of “national ICT champions”.

q  Support the creation of added value organizations and jobs to guarantee sustainability . q  Boost entrepreneurship and stimulate innovation.

q  Improve business competitiveness, in all sectors, through investment in ICT and a better positioning in the digital economy.

q  The establishment of a regulatory framework , governance and a suitable secure environment.

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The role of UVT in modernizing higher education in Tunisia National Strategic Plan 2016-2019

Improve governance , secure e-management and promote the culture of performance, quality and accountability within the university. v Diversify trainings and diplomas, targeting more learners from the disadvantaged regions . v Develop training provision throughout life and create more opportunities for adult learners. v Establish quality assurance and control structures . v Develop an international strategy. v Promote the management of strategic knowledge v Integrate new technical educational tools v Promote interdisciplinary research in education, cognitive learning and ICT v Establish a national platform of MOOCs and adequate technological infrastructure .

New perspectives related to the new strategic plan for the period 2016-2019

OER and MOOCs VUT has submitted a strategic national project in the framework of the Tunisia Digital Strategy

2018, in partnership with the CIFODE'COM center. This project aims to : §  Contribute to greater equity and to promote inclusive education with a wider access to open

resources. §  Develop the uses of digital technology in Tunisian society to foster the development of distance

education and address the challenge of the growing number of students in higher education .

Achievements : Ø  Participation in Francophone Network of open educational resources REFRER

(Réseau francophone de resources éducatives réutilisables) initiative containing more than 3000 shared resources by all project's partners.

Ø  Partner of the first MOOC pilot programme deployed in Tunisia: FOFLE (learn French) in partnership with Orange and the Claroline Consortium.

Ø  CollaboratIon in other projects of MOOCs coordinated by Tunisian university teachers through initiatives of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.

Ø  15 Moocs planned for the period 2016-2019

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Challenges and issues

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v Need for administrative leadership and support by developing and implementing an innovative e-learning policy v Adapting laws and decrees to meet the requirements of online education and to fully implement NSP

v Raising awareness regarding online degrees recognition

v Developing evaluation and assessment tools to provide evidence for learning outcomes and to demonstrate progress in learning v Training teachers and staff to develop best practices

v Need for incentives and rewards to encourage participation

v Bridging the gap between research and practice and developing collaboration between universities

v Devolping partnership with private sector to ensure accountabilty

v Need for developing English medium programmes to cope with internationalization in higher education and global job market

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Thank you for your attention