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Virtual and E-mobility for Networking Universities in Society
The Virtual and E-mobility for Networking Universities in Society (VENUS) project was selected in 2005, and funded from 1 March 2006 until 29 February 2008 by the European Commision - DG Education & Culture under the eLearning programme.
The VENUS web site is at http://www.venus-project.net/ & http://www.venus-seminars.net/
Summary
The VENUS project aimed at establishing a sustainable way for students and citizens to participate in seminars with renowned experts from all over the world. In fact, the VENUS seminars combine through their blended way of delivery the advantages of face-to-face interaction with those of virtual mobility: on the one hand, the virtual way of delivery (videoconference, live streaming, on-line debates) enables participants to listen to experts and academics who are otherwise hard to reach for the European citizen, without anyone really having to travel. On the other hand, the local broadcasting of the videoconference gives participants the opportunity to debate and network face-to-face with other interested people. This blended delivery of the VENUS Seminars also implies a geographical distinction: the general lecture and debate are at European level, while the local debates are region-specific, which both enhances the European identity while at the same time valueing the local aspects. The VENUS partners form an international cluster of educational institutions, each strongly embedded in regional networks, stimulating the inclusion of citizens. VENUS evaluated the sustainability of two different models of virtual seminars: a seminar series, running in the academic year 2006-2007 and a one-week summer school, in the summer of 2007. The main outcome of VENUS is the creation of sustainable models for a 'Faculty of Extension'. It is a 'Faculty' that delivers relevant content for the European Citizen provided by experts in the field and that includes in its audience foreign students, citizens and regional and international networks. The 'Faculty of Extension' is enabled by using the appropriate supportive forms of transmission and collaboration methods (videoconferences, chat, online streaming... but also face-to-face meetings).
Outcomes
The main outcome of the VENUS project is the handbook Virtual Seminars. Creating New Opportunities for Universities, edited by Sally Reynolds, Kamakshi Rajagopal and Bieke Schreurs.
The Venus Summary Booklet and Recommendations are available in three languages: English, French and German.
Furthermore, the recordings of the VENUS seminar series and the VENUS summer school are available at http://www.venus-seminars.net/
Partners
- EuroPACE – Belgium, Co-ordination by Bieke Schreurs
- K.U.Leuven - Belgium
- ATiT - Belgium
- University of Cologne - Germany
- Teknillinen korkeakoulu (Helsinki University of Technology) - Finland
- University of West Hungary - Hungary
- The West Pomeranian Business School in Szczecin - Poland
- Technical University of Kosice - Slovakia
- NETTUNO- Network per l’Università Ovunque - Italy