The project consortium is composed of partners with distinct experience in Digital Education on different levels, ranging from a few months to decades. The consortium partners represent universities with different history and educational profiles, from general to technical and business oriented.
The project consortium consists of:
1) Brno University of Technology (CZ),
2) University Politehnica of Bucharest (RO),
3) University of Agder (NO),
4) Bifröst University (IS).
To make the HE institutions ready for Digital Education (DE), the two main project objectives are:
A) to synthesize the main pedagogical and technological principles in the development of DE approaches including preparation of the supporting teaching materials, and development of a basic structure for DE recognition,
B) to apply, test and validate these principles in different pilot modules/courses targeting different student cohorts at all partner universities.
The project target groups:
i) students of a variety of study programmes with diverse background and learning skills,
ii) teachers involved in Digital Education,
iii) education and ICT experts with specialization in online learning.
Anticipated main project results:
-8 Digital Education methodologies for Higher Education institutions in 8 different topics,
-one case study about application of blockchain technology in Digital Education recognition, including design, implementation and testing of a recognition system.
Two Intellectual Outputs will be developed:
(1) Digital Education Methodology, including several case studies with the description of relevant pedagogy, teaching materials, digital learning tools and simulators in Digital Education; each partner university will contribute with two methodological cases for two different study disciplines covering engineering, quality management, mathematics, media studies, leadership.
(2) Digital Education Recognition, where possibilities of recognition of higher education achievements will be explored including use of the blockchain technology in digital recognition of ECTS. A needs/gaps analysis will be prepared as well as a case study and a pilot concept for digital recognition based on blockchains.
We envisage the following short and long term impact on target groups and institutions:
a) Partner institutions
Short Term: increased level of knowledge based on exchange of evidence on Digital Education concepts, focus groups and results of the pilot training; increased knowledge to be transferred into more extensive projects
Long Term: introduce schemes into daily practices; contribute to changes in economic policies and learning techniques
b) Authorities/experts
Short Term: increase knowledge and awareness on circular bio-economy concepts
Long term: stimulate Digital Education concepts schemes policies; developing ideas for further improving modern educational mechanisms
c) Academic service providers
Short Term: increase awareness levels about the possibility of introducing modern Digital Education concepts / blockchain technology support in their own administrative rules; increase responsibility in promoting modern curricula and courses
Long Term: increased capacity of the involved Higher Education Institutions to cooperate with authorities in designing appropriate Digital Education concepts
d) Students/learners: increased awareness of the potential of Digital Education concepts; increased capacity of learning based on modern practices; increased chances to be enrolled on the unique European labour market based on Digital Education Recognition