Virtual mobility concept, types and success factors

Virtual Mobility in Higher Education

Estela Daukšienė

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

Virtual mobility in Higher Education

2013 - 06 - 18

Estela Daukšienė, doctoral student, Vytautas Magnus University


Estela Daukšienė

Topics to talk about

• Virtual mobility concept and its characteristics.

• Virtual mobility types and activities. • Scenarios of virtual mobility courses.• Impact and benefits of virtual learning and

virtual mobility.• VM success factors


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility definition

VM is• “the collaborative communication between a faculty

member and his/her counterpart(s) mediated by a computer.” (S. Van de Bunt-Kokhuis’s, 1996)

• “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 ” (Elearningeurope.info, 2009)


Estela Daukšienė


• “possibility to attend classes, seminars and other events held in a place located anywhere in the world;

• the possibility to access reference materials and contents at a distance, by using ICT-based solutions;

• the possibility to communicate with other people located anywhere“

“Virtual Erasmus student” (Spot+ project team, 2001)


Estela Daukšienė


“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”

Home & Away. Coaching exchange students from a distance. A best-practice manual on blended mobility. Eds. Op de Beeck,

Bijnens, and Van Petegem, 2008


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility concept

• As a complement to traditional mobility (blended mobility)

or • As an alternative for traditional mobility

(fully virtual mobility)


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility definition (1)

VM – is an activity or form of learning, research, cooperation and collaboration, based on the following characteristics:

• cooperation of higher education institutions;• virtual components through an ICT supported learning

environment;• collaboration of people from different backgrounds and

cultures working and studying together, creating a virtual community;

• having a clear goal and clearly defined learning outcomes;

• …


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility definition (2)

VM – is an activity or form of learning, research, cooperation and collaboration, based on the following characteristics:

• …

• having, as its main purpose, the exchange of knowledge and improvement of intercultural competence

• as a result of which the participants may obtain ECTS credits and/or its academic recognition will be assumed by the home university;

• providing visibility of university in higher education area, capitalization of educational process

• leading to the integration of ICT into their mainstreaming in academic and business processes


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility concept change in EU

• 1995-2004 • Joint virtual seminars – part of the course• 3 Humanities and spot+ project• cooperation of traditional universities for

tele-conferencing (sometimes audio) connections

• Stress on virtual delivery• Expensive technological solutions• Research on ICT use in universities• Design of university cooperation models

Virtualus mokymasis. Virtualus mobilumas – virtualaus mokymosi išraiška.

Estela Daukšienė


Estela Daukšienė


2005-2009 • Virtual universities won’t dominate as

expected• Virtual mobility to support physical mobility• Lots of research and guidelines how to boost

physical mobility with virtual activities• virtual campus=virtual mobility


Estela Daukšienė


Estela Daukšienė


2009-2011 • Concept revision (10vm elements - Movinter)• Joint module delivery in Teacamp• EC definition – “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“

(European Commission, Erasmus for all establishing proposal, 2011, p. 15)


Estela Daukšienė


Estela Daukšienė

Dondi, C., & Salandin, T. (2010). The Movinter White Paper, p.15


Estela Daukšienė


• 2013 - ?• OER more popular• MOOCS in Europe• VM-Colab, UBIcamp, IP Programme - Virtual

mobility and learning …


Estela Daukšienė

Types of virtual mobility activities

1. Virtual seminar (series) or part of the virtual course or virtual course/module or Virtual study programme

2. Virtual placement

3. Virtual support activities for physical mobility (before, during or after traditional mobility – i.e. info

about studies in another country, language or culture preparation/intro courses, virtual buddy, e-couching, feedback, virtual assessment or exams, and other)


Estela Daukšienė

2 perspectives

• Student virtual mobility• Teacher virtual mobility


Estela Daukšienė

Group task one:

“in VM subject has to be interesting to be seen from different countries perspectives”

• What topic would be useful to be compared internationally in your group subject areas?


Estela Daukšienė

Virtual mobility courses – different scenarios

• Virtual stay abroad or remote access model– A course in another

institution Univ. A teacher

(students)

Univ. B student

s

Univ. C studen

ts

Univ. D studen

ts

Univ. E studen

ts


Estela Daukšienė


• Virtual campus model– For joint access to

resources– Joint development of

resources– Joint activities

Virtual campu

s

Students

univ. A

Students

univ.B

Students

univ. C

Students univ.

DStuden

ts univ.E


Estela Daukšienė


• Joint curricula design:– Joint design– Course adaptation– Joint design and

delivery:• Divided into parts

(Teacamp)• Aimed at different

approaches sharing (Global social programmes)

Teachers

univ. A, B, C, D,

E, F

Students

univ. A

Students

univ. B

Students

univ. C

Students

univ. D

Students

univ. E

Students

univ. F


Estela Daukšienė

Group task two:

• Why would my class need virtual mobility?


Estela Daukšienė

VM benefits for institutions

• enhances the quality of courses and curricula• contributes to the internationalization and

modernization of HE: Open, international, recognizable; attracts foreign students

• enhance sound competition between institutions• Multi-institutional collaboration between institutions • fosters the use of e-learning and the development of

virtual universities in Europe


Estela Daukšienė

Main benefits of vm forstudents and teachers

• Different forms of learning and methods of delivery

• Experience and improvement of virtual mobility competences – Linguistical/language– Cultural/intercultural– ICT– Educational/LO related– Personal and social

• More career opportunities...


Estela Daukšienė

Key success factors for virtual mobility

(from vm experts) (1)• It has to come from a need• Transparent integration of technology - should not

be technical barriers • Natural partnership, Enthusiasm and effective team

work• Engagement of 3 levels:

– top management, – faculty-teacher, and– Students


Estela Daukšienė

Key success factors for vm (from vm experts) (2)

• Try to do this in a blended way - necessity of synchronous meetings

• Everything has to be pre-planned• Initial teacher training and support• Benevolent attitude and encouragement of the

teacher• Different cultures + different perspectives = wider

approach

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

We don’t need to make it virtual, we can only make use

of it

Thank you