Virtual Mobilityin Higher EducationWim Van PetegemKU Leuven

Background projects

Virtual Mobility: definition

“Virtual Mobility stands for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to obtain the same benefits as one would have

with physical mobility but without the need to travel” elearningeuropa.info

“ Virtual Mobility is a form of learning which consists of virtual components through an ICT supported learning environment

that includes cross-border collaboration with people from different backgrounds and cultures working and studying together, having, as

its main purpose, the enhancement of intercultural understanding and the exchange of knowledge. ”

Being Mobile Manual

Virtual Mobility: definition (II)

a set of ICT supported activities, organized at institutional level,

that realize or facilitate international, collaborative experiences in a context of

teaching and/or learning.

Virtual mobility

Inter-national

dimension

Inter-cultural

competence

International dimensionInternationalisation is about the integration of an international dimension into the research, teaching and services function of Higher Education:

• Credit mobility: Students are sent (mostly physically, sometimes virtually) to another university and take a few courses, which are recognised in the home university according to the ECTS, and which are formally mentioned in a diploma supplement.

• Degree mobility: One step further is the level of a complete program or curriculum, jointly organised by two or more institutions, with an international touch in content and in format, well or not including physical mobility of students and/or teachers, and leading to a double or joint degree.

• …

International dimension (II)• …• Global mobility: Instead of just a few institutions setting up bilateral

agreements for students in a specific program, the next step is going really global and making strategic institutional networks for cross-border collaboration at all levels.

• System mobility: If those alliances are touching the whole institutional structure and infrastructure, a more systemic approach is necessary, changing in a fundamental way all core processes within the institution, even beyond teaching and learning.

• Excellence mobility: The ultimate goal for many HEIs is to become world-class leaders on a global scale and this will probably end up in high-level leagues of institutions with similar ambitions for excellence in international academic teaching and learning.

(cf ACA Handbook on Internationalisation of HE)

Intercultural competence

Intercultural competence is about the ability to understand and respond to cultural difference in increasingly sophisticated ways.

This ability shows itself in three aspects: it is about the changes of an individual’s knowledge (cognition), attitudes (emotions) and skills (behaviour) in order to enable a positive and effective interaction with members of other cultures, both abroad and at home.

Types of Virtual Mobility • Related to international student or staff exchanges

o Virtual mobility to facilitate a physical international exchange (blended)

o Virtual mobility to realise an international exchange, i.e. the student follows substantial parts of a programme at a distance, supported via ICT (virtual)

• Related to international internshipso Virtual mobility to facilitate physical international

internships (blended)o Virtual mobility to realise international internships (virtual)

• Related to an internationalised curriculumo Virtual mobility as a scenario to internationalise a (part of

a) course (chapter, exercise, task, project), programme, workshop, seminar, … This can be either fully virtual or blended.

Virtual Mobility Activities

• Orientation modules• Course information• Preparatory courses

(language, culture, digital literacy)

• Pre-selection tools• …

• Virtual assessment andevaluation at a distance

• Virtual alumni• …

• E-coaching• Permanent evaluation/assessment

BEFORE DURING AFTER

Virtual buddy system (KU Leuven)

Contents of the course: During the exchange

Go Abroad!, Laurea (Finland)

- Assignments online(e.g. what special knowledge can your practice place offer you in the point of view of your studies?)

- Writing the Go Abroad diary regularly

- Participation in discussions with the International Coordinators and other students abroad

Virtual Alumni

Erasmus Mundus Alumni Associationwww.erasmusmundus-alumni.eu

Erasmus Student Network Alumni Societywww.alumni.esn.org

Students organize themselves in aFacebook (or other social media) environment

Three phases of a virtual internshipBEFORE

Three phases of a virtual internshipDURING

Three phases of a virtual internshipAFTER

Projects background

• Dissemination→ difficult to reach companies• Exploitation → need for a structural collaboration

between companies and higher education• www.euvip.eu

• develop and implement a specificdissemination strategy for companies

• create an international network, supportedthrough an online platform

• www.provip.info

VMCOLAB‘European Co-Laboratory for the Integration of Virtual Mobility in Higher Education Innovation and Modernisation Strategies’

Duration: 1 October 2012 – 31 January 2015

Partners:• KU Leuven (BE)• EFQUEL (BE)• Coimbra Group (BE)• University of Padova (IT)• University of Porto (PT)

• Vytautas Magnus University (LT)• University of Granada (ES)• United Nations University (DE)• University Politehnica of Bucharest (RO)

Funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme

VMCOLAB – the project

“contribute to the innovation and internationalisation of European Higher Education Institutions by exploiting the full

potential of ICT and Virtual Mobility and broadening the access to an international learning experience for all

European students”

“develop support materials and services for those wanting to engage in virtual mobility experiences”

VMCOLAB – the resultsFor higher education institutions• A Quality Assurance handbook for Virtual Mobility• A Virtual Mobility Integration Kit• Institutional Awareness Seminars• VMCOLAB Co-Laboratory on LinkedIn

For students• A Students’ Guide to Virtual Mobility• ‘Virtual4Me’ website

For policy makers• Policy recommendations • Policy event

VMCOLAB - websites

VMCOLAB project websitewww.vmcolab.eu

Virtual4Me website (for students)virtual4me.vmcolab.eu

On LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Virtual-Mobility-

CoLaboratory-6934729/about

iLearningHigher education is international,

intercultural, intergenerational, interdisciplinary,

… thanks to

(or despite?) new educational technologies

Questions? Suggestions?

InfoProf.dr.ir. Wim Van PetegemKU Leuven W. De Croylaan 56, B-3001 Heverlee (Belgium)T: +32-16-32.78.13 F: +32-16-32.82.70M: +32-477-77.22.86 S: wvanpetegemE: wim.vanpetegem@kuleuven.beL: http://be.linkedin.com/in/wimvanpetegem