1. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
The Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences - The Network of Networks amk.fi, oncampus.fi, virtualyh.fi
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2. The Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences
Founded in 2001
Networked co-operation organization formed by Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (29)
Based on the Information Strategy of the Finnish Ministry of Education
Coordinated by the Development Unit, situated at TAMK University of Applied Sciences
Steering group defines the strategic policies
Funded by Finnish Ministry of Education, European Social Fund and Universities of Applied Sciences.
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3. Administration of the Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences
Finnish Ministry of Education
Rectors' Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (ARENE)
Leading group
Chairman: Markku Lahtinen, Rector of TAMK University of Applied Sciences (in Tampere)
Development Unit
(in Tampere)
Director: Marja Rautajoki & 8 employees
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4. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
The Objectives
to define, produce and offer internationally recognized, high-standard and competitive education services and educational entities aiming at flexible studies
to arrange exchange of courses between all Finnish universities of applied sciences
to promote modern information and communications technology in learning.
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5. The portal – amk.fi, oncampus.fi, virtualyh.fi
A gateway to educational contents and courses offered by the Finnish universities of applied sciences
Centralized e-learning services for everyone interested in learning
eStudy Services for students (applying for courses online) and staff (handling the applications)
eProduction platform for content producers
Material bank and metadata repository for online study materials (learning objects, courses)
Forum for professional cooperation
A place to bring the polytechnics’ expertise together and to share information between different target groups
Based on the single-sign-on principle
Built on a web publishing system utilizing multi-portal functionality:
also the Open Polytechnic Portal (target group is other than degree students) is created with the help of this system.
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6. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
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7. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
eStudy Services
An information system integrated with the portal
A system for handling the exchange of students between the Finnish universities of applied sciences
A student can apply for studies arranged by another university of applied sciences in the eStudy Services at the portal
The study officials at the universities of applied sciences handle online the students’ applications for courses.
The studying takes place mainly outside the portal.
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8. eStudy Services – Search for Courses Student’s View
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9. A Two-Way Approval Policy for the Students’ Applications for Courses
The student applies for a course arranged by
another polytechnic.
The home university of the student supports (or does not support) the student’s electronic application for a course arranged in another
university of applied sciences
The receiving university (the university arranging the course) gives its acceptance for the student’s application.
The student gets an and instructions how to start the course.
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10. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
Financial Issues
The home university of the student pays for studies the student takes at another university of applied sciences.
The receiving university gets a payment for each incoming student.
The portal studies are (by law) free for students. The money transfer only takes places between the universities of applied sciences.
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11. Production Teams and Production Platform
Teachers and students from universities of applied sciences have produced network-based study materials (learning objects, courses and study modules) for different study fields in production teams.
About 70 teams and 1000 people have been involved in material production between
The production is based on learning objects
Production Platform is built for the high standard production process
Material producers can easily make and build up courses and study modules on Production Platform.
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12. Have you already visited DIGMA? - Immu has!
Study materials produced by the production teams are hosted in DIGMA – in the Material Bank of the portal.
Metadata is included in the learning objects to enable searches based on different search criteria.
The university staff have access to all the material bank.
Students and other logged-in users have access to a limited set of materials.
Terms of use and copyright are defined in each of the learning objects and courses.
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13. Material Bank and Metadata Repository - DIGMA
Study materials worth of about 1500 study credits are hosted in the Material Bank of the portal (the main result of the project funded by ESF, concluded in the end of 2006).
Courses and study modules are compiled from learning objects
on the Production platform of the Finnish online university of applied sciences
on the Moodle platform or other eLearning platforms of the separate universities of applied sciences.
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14. Material Bank and Metadata Repository - DIGMA
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15. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
Portal Services
eProduction Platform
Single sign-on
into portal
Material Bank DIGMA
incl. metadata
eStudy Services
eLearning platform
Health and welfare
Industrial rights
Virtual village
Information searching
Statistics
Centralized course supply
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16. Copyright VirtuaaliAMK
Focus points
The Finnish Ministry of Education will fund the operations until 2009, after that the operations should be stabilized ->the Establishing Plan is in hand
Intensive cooperation with the Finnish Virtual University, e.g.:
developing services in close cooperation: some of our services are very alike
New projects (funded by ESF and Finnish Ministry of Education)
New version of the information system of eStudy services
Cooperation with companies:
creating online study materials and implementing courses
pilot projects with companies -> result: model of cooperation with companies
New production teams, video and audio versions of the study materials, developing the storage and updating of study materials, Creative Commons copyrights, flexible study right between universities of applied sciences.
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17. Visions and Challenges
The Finnish Online University of Applied Sciences and The Finnish Virtual University as a part of international networks, strong European trendsetter (e.g. EuNeOn)
networked university that provides flexible studying over university borders on a national and international scale
versatile and rich studying by utilizing different medias: television, radio, mobile devices and their combinations (hybrids) -> Internet is only one option
tailored degrees
the effects of social media on training
developing the accessibility of study materials (material banks and metadata repositories).
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18. The Vision: Study Process on the Internet
Production team 1
oncampus.fi
The course supply of universities
of applied sciences
Online-pedagogical
research and development
eStudy services (online applications)
Production team 2
Production team 3
Personal study plan
I n t e r n e t
Student
Making good use of
online study materials
Teacher, trainer
Study group
Digital TV
Digital materials: e-books
External evaluator
Tutor
DIGMA
Digital materials: learning objects, courses, audio files etc.
Company A
Picture by Marja Rautajoki
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