Baltic IT&T 2005 Forum, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills , 7 April 2005

1. Virtual University Initiatives and Challenges in the Baltic Sea AreaApril 7, 2005Eija RistimäkiHead of CommunicationsFVU Service Unit Baltic IT&T 2005 Forum, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills, 7 April 2005

2. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Contents FVU – who are we? Northern eDimension Action Plan eSkills & eLearning action line Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area Scenarios for Co-operation Challenges Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills,7 April 2005

3. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Who are we? The FVUisa partnership ofthe 21 universities in Finland • to promote online learning and teaching • to provide online information resources • to develop compatible information systems • to develop the basic infrastructure of full-scale electronic access services Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

4. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Equality and accessibility as in-built work culture Information SocietyProgrammefor Education,Training and Research2004-2006 FVU’s strategy 2005-2010 • FVU’s way of doing things - networked based education • - electronic services enhancing collaboration • Equality • Accessibility European standards–Bologna process Majorcurricula reformgoing onin Finnishuniversities Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

5. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Northern Dimension as EU policy programme Northern Dimension Area Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

6. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Northern eDimension Action Plan Agreed by the Heads of Government on the 5th BalticSea States Summit in Estonia, 21 June 2004 Can play an important role in the follow-up of theLisbon strategy to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based society in the world with improved social cohesion and employment by 2010 Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

7. Eija Ristimäki, FVU eSkills & eLearning action line Focus areas Digital literacy for learning and for the labour market Virtual Campuses Following the application of recognition and validation schemes (ECTS) on eLearning Virtual universities for continuous training and professional development Stocktaking of e-learning opportunities in the BalticSea region Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

8. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area… Seminar on Virtual University Education and Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Area, 21 March Organized by the FVU andthe Finnish Ministry of Education Invited speakers from • St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University • Estonian eUniversity • eUniversity at the University of Latvia • Baltic Sea Virtual Campus • FVU and Aleksanteri Institute - Finnish Centre for Russian and East European Studies Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

9. Eija Ristimäki, FVU …Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area • Baltic Sea Virtual Campus • Pilot courses in • Transregional Management- 33 students from Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Sweden andDenmark- 5 modules finished, 5 in progress • Industrial Engineering - 12 students - 3 modules- 6 seminars Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

10. Eija Ristimäki, FVU …Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University Partners in Finland • University of Joensuu • Lappeenranta University of Technology • University of Kuopio • University of Tampere • University of Helsinki Partners in Russia • St. Petersburg State University • St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University • Petrozavods State University • The European University at St.Petersburg Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

11. Eija Ristimäki, FVU …Virtual University Initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area Finnish-Russian Cross-Border University Joint programmes in • International Relations • Information Technology • Business, Economics, Corporation Law • Public Health • History • Forestry and Bio-energy Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

12. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Scenarios for co-operation… exchange of good practices exchange of e-learning tools exchange of e-learning material exchange of modules, learning objects joint courses joint master’s degree programmes University University University University University Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

13. Eija Ristimäki, FVU … scenarios for co-operation thematic networks common quality criteria standardization indicators: effectiveness & efficiency of eLearning technological co-operation … University University University University University Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

14. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Challenges content issues cultural and semanticdifferences differences in regulations Collaborationacross theborders how to cut costs what will happen after project period quality issues- quality costs money sustainability productisation Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

15. Eija Ristimäki, FVU Is there funding available ? EU funding programmes • IST Programme • 6th Framework Programme • Interreg III • Tacis Nordic Council of Ministers International financialinstitutions Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005

16. Eija Ristimäki, FVU FVU portal – Further information Follow-up and further actions at http://www.virtualuniversity.fi Baltic IT&T 2005, eInclusion session: Developing eSkills ,7 April 2005