"New modes of learning and teaching in universities" - incluD-ed welcomes the report of the EU High-Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher Education
Thu, 30/10/2014
The European Union's High-Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher Education has published on 22 October 2014 its report on 'new modes of learning and teaching in universities'. The group, chaired by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, makes 15 recommendations highlighting the need for better targeting of resources to promote the development and use of more flexible digital learning and teaching methods in higher education.
Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, welcomed the group's report. "Europe is facing the challenge of coping with greater numbers of students, greater diversity among them, and the need to improve the quality of learning and teaching. Mary McAleese's group has identified realistic and practical steps that can be taken by the EU and national authorities to make better use of new technologies in learning and teaching to respond to those needs. I am especially pleased that the new Erasmus+ programme, which I launched in January, will be able to support the implementation of recommendations by the group." […]
Although Europe is starting to make progress, it is still lagging behind the US in using new technologies in universities and colleges. Educational resources from around the globe are becoming more freely accessible and increasingly interactive, moving beyond the simple, online lecture. Digital learning and teaching can be better tailored to the needs of individual students and advances in learning analytics allow professors to give quicker feedback on students' performance and to identify areas where more support is needed.
Digitally based teaching methods are starting to be integrated both on-campus and online as many European higher education institutions are using the new opportunities technology offers. But too often developments rely on a few enthusiastic staff members and there is no coherent strategic uptake within the institutions or across countries.
Based on a thorough analysis of the current situation and of good practices across the EU and beyond, the high level group has identified pathways to support the introduction of new technology-based education. While accepting that higher education institutions themselves are the main actors in delivering changes, the group has underlined the responsibility of public authorities to create an environment which is conducive to change.
Read the full press release http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1188_en.htm
***
incluD-ed welcomes the report as well as the new opportunities the innovative online technologies offer in the area of inclusive education. As the report said “there is enormous potential for widening access to higher education and increasing the diversity of the student population.” This is especially positive for students with disabilities that can – as far as accessibility is ensured - learn anywhere, anytime and from anyone. This flexibility is an essential asset for inclusive education. incluD-ed is optimistic that if governments and higher education institutions in lifelong learning and continuing professional development succeed to establish accessible online education opportunities that meet the needs of all learners a big step in promoting inclusive education systems throughout Europe will be achieved.
The report underlines that “these ’new’ modes [of learning] thought to expand the reach of higher education by creating more flexible opportunities […] were very much driven by the principles of equality, diversity, quality and efficiency." incluD-ed underlines that to assure these principles, all education and research high quality materials need to be accessible to all, so that they can be adapted and customised to learners’ needs and specific circumstances.
