Finnish Universities Should Ensure Continuity of Their Virtual University Activities and Promote Further Development Nationwide


Helsinki, 31 October, 2005 — The Finnish Virtual University Consortium decided in its September meeting to recommend that universities should take the appropriate measures to ensure that their own virtual university activities continue to progress. Universities were also recommended to participate in the further development of FVU and prepare to allocate some of their own resources to joint FVU projects starting in 2007. Until now, universities have gained funding from the Ministry of Education for virtual university projects. The project funding period will end in 2006.


The FVU Consortium engaged in an extensive discussion on the funding principles of the consortium in the post-2007 period. The FVU Steering Group will draft a proposal for a consortium fee and a new governance structure, to be discussed at the next consortium meeting on February 8, 2006.

Issue Groups to Plan Activities

One of the activities outlined in the FVU strategy includes initiating a new kind of taskforce called the Issue Groups. The FVU Issue Groups are working groups composed of university experts. Their mandate is to plan the implementation of the FVU strategy, to develop project maps for its implementation, and to keep an eye on the progress of future university projects. One Issue Group has been established for each of the FVU’s strategic targets:

- Facilitating flexible studies and developing electronic service access for this purpose
- Promoting the shared use of online education and educational materials
- Developing jointly-used ICT training and ICT support services
- Integrating the FVU operations into the European Higher Education Area and other international co-operation
- Developing the FVU organization, operating modes, decision making, and financing models.


The first term of office of the Issue Groups will extend until the meeting of the FVU Consortium on February 8, 2006, and their most important task is to draw up an implementation programme for the FVU strategy. Moreover, the first term will also involve the task of planning the future work of the Issue Groups during the strategy period 2005-2010.


More Information:
http://www.VirtualUniversity.fi

Ref: http://e.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=43170