A bimonthly publication of AQU Catalunya

72

May 2014

AQU Catalunya participated in the launch meeting of the project Enhancing Quality of Technology-Enhanced Learning at Jordanian Universities (EQTeL), held at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) from 10-12 March.

The aim of the project is to develop key performance indicators for models of Technology Enhanced Learning (TeL, learning models that use new technologies for enhanced learning) in Jordan, which can be applied at international level and, in accordance with the Bologna Process, in the European Union. One of the main challenges of the project is to develop and improve the quality standards of e-learning initiatives in blended and distance learning courses, which will result in important benefits in the future for students across the Middle East, through the combined efforts of the universities and institutions in Jordan with support from partners in the European Union.

AQU Catalunya and ENQA participate in the project as partners and are responsible for the design and implementation of staff training at universities in Jordan, in order to develop and set in place systems for quality assurance (QA). The Agency regards this as an opportunity to further develop QA assurance and enhancement methodologies in higher education that include the intensive use of new technologies and e-learning initiatives.

EQTel is a project that comes under the European Union's TEMPUS 2013 programme, which supports the modernisation of higher education in EU partner countries. The consortium for the project, which is led by UOC professor Albert Sangrà, consists of five European partners (three universities and two quality assurance agencies) and eight from Jordan (five universities, the Jordanian Ministry of Education, one national accreditation agency and an association of universities). Funding for the 3-year project is approximately EUR 1 million.