Virtual Mobility

VM-BASE - ' Virtual Mobility Before and After Student Exchanges '

• Funding programme and duration
  The VM-BASE project is funded with support from the European Commission under the SOCRATES Programme, MINERVA Action. The activities started in October 2006 and run until October 2008.
  
  
• Objectives
  VM-BASE aims to enhance the impact and efficiency of the Erasmus programme through the set-up of and support for a full-fletched ‘blended’ Erasmus action, (1) as a complement to the existing Erasmus exchange programmes in which virtual Erasmus can be used to prepare and follow-up the physical mobility; (2) to support teachers in coaching at a distance (e-coaching) for both preparatory and return initiatives in blended format; (3) to consider the local, regional, national and European considerations of such ‘blended mobility’ actions.
  
  
• Target Groups
  Main target groups are the (Erasmus) students and teachers, but also policy makers, (networks of) higher education institutions, student representative bodies (at European, national, regional and local level) will be addressed. Activities include a.o. research (needs analysis) and piloting.
  
  
• Outputs
  Envisaged outputs include:
  • Orientation guidelines for students to select a host institution for their physical Erasmus exchange program.
  • Codes of good practice in designing pre-selection tests for students to assess themselves in how far they are prepared for the studies at the host institute of their choice.
  • Blue print for preliminary courses (e.g. on language, culture, digital literacy) for students preparing for a physical Erasmus exchange.
  • Guidelines on assessment and evaluation tools to facilitate examination at the end or even after physical Erasmus exchanges.
  • A study on a Virtual Alumni Association for Erasmus students.
  • A manual on ‘good practices in e-coaching’ with models, tools and systems, looked upon from three different angles: technology-media, organisation-logistics, and pedagogy-didactics.
  • A manual with validated procedures and recommendations for blended mobility activities at institutional, network (local/transnational) and European level.
  
  
• Partners
  EuroPACE ivzw (BE), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - AVNet, Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven, Coimbra Group of Universities, ESIB - The National Unions of Students in Europe, University of Tartu, BEST - Board of European Students of Technology, University of West Hungary - College of Geoinformatics, Helsinki University of Technology - DKK Dipoli, Laurea University of Applied Sciences Finland, University of Edinburgh
  
  
• Project website
  http://vm-base.europace.org
  
  
• Contact details
  contact name: Ilse Op de Beeck
  organisation: EuroPACE ivzw
  e-mail: vm-base@europace.be