AVICENNA - VIRTUAL CAMPUS (Mediterranean University Network)

UE Programme
EUMEDIS

First Contractor
UNESCO

Description

The AVICENNA project is dedicated to accelerating the adoption and best use of ICT-assisted Open Distance Learning (ODL) in 11 Mediterranean non-EU Member States (MNMS). Demand for ODL in the target Universities and societies already exists. The project aims at establishing adequate local infrastructures and to transfer best practice and professional know-how within target universities.
It will be stimulated and met by the sensitive engagement of some of the EU's leading Open Universities and ODL providers, under the aegis of UNESCO. Together with European universities they will form a network of 15"AVICENNA Knowledge Centres" (AKC). Adequate expert support, intensive training of key personnel in "AKCs", content sharing and translating, will create the conditions for a successful take-up of ODL within the target universities and countries, while reducing the cost of such an initiative.
This implies that all the Centres respect common standards and norms with regard to technology and ODL services, including facilities for blind students. Each country has already identified its own Knowledge Centre.
Its objectives are:

* to accelerate the adoption and setting-up of e-learning centers in each country;
* to equip the Avicenna Knowledge Centres (AKCs)and Networking them via Internet;
* to train the staff of centres (directors, technical experts and tutors);
* to train teachers to produce e-learning multimedia courses which shall be used in the internet network and intranet satellite.
* to develop courses in scientific and engineering disciplines. To select norms and quality evaluation procedures;
* to set up an open virtual library of multimedia e-learning courses in English, Arabic, French and other languages;
* to provide e-learning sessions for students.

Logical Framework Overall Goal(s): 

Linking European and Mediterranean know-how in ICT for higher education.

Logical Framework Project Purpose: 

* Developing an operator for transferring courses and sharing expertise at university level (from undergraduate level to research, engineers training, life-long learning).
* Implementation of courses on ICTs offered through AVICENNA Virtual Library.
* Training of experts for re-authoring existing material.
* Transfer of knowledge services associated (tutoring).

Results:

* Intranet linking 15 AVICENNA Knowledge Centres under the same technological norms with homogeneous coordination.
* 3 experts in ODL trained in each of the 15 AKC.
* 292 teachers trained in the network for the production of courses.
* 600 tutors trained at the end of the period.
* 316 multimedia courses available in a virtual library distributed in the different centres at the end of the three years.
* 200 students each semester in each centre. Cost per student: EUR 318 for 3 years period and EUR 101 for years projection period.
* Training of professors in the use of ICTs.
* South Mediterranean universities offering new resources and opportunities to students through a network.
* Improvement and changes: modularisation of courses; common credits system for inter-institution acknowledgment of diplomas.

Duration:
Contract signature date: 2002-10-03; Planned end date: 2005-10-31

Partners
Leading partner
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (France)

Participating Partners
Université de la Formation Continue (Algeria)
University of Cyprus (Cyprus)
Faculty of Computer and Information - Cairo University (Egypt)
Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance (France)
Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (France)
Université de la Méditerranée Marseille II (France)
Middle East Technical University (Italy)
NETTUNO - Network per l'Università Ovunque (Italy)
Philadelphia University (Jordan)
Lebanese University (Lebanon)
Malta Council for Science and Technology (Malta)
École Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique et d'Analyse des Systemes (Morocco)
Al-Quds Open University (Palestinian Authority)
Universidad National de Educacion a Distancia (Spain)
Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering University of Damascus (Syria)
Insitut Supérieur de l'Education et de la Formation Continue (Tunisia)