Virtual Mobility

M.A.S.T.E.R - 'Mobility, Assessment, Selection, Technology and E-Learning research'

• Duration of the project
  The M.A.S.T.E.R project was supported by the European Commissions’ Minerva Programme. It started in 2006 and runs for 24 months.
  
  
• Objectives
  The overall objective of this project is on the one hand the development of an innovative learning environment to facilitate prospective European master degree students in their selection process by ensuring more informed decision making, and providing online preparation for a master programme. On the other hand, it will improve the opportunities of universities to inform students about their programmes and increase the completion rates and reduce necessary study time. Therefore, a student should be able to make a more informed choice, refresh or attain the required skills and form a bond with the university at an early stage, thereby possibly increasing the likeliness of obtaining a Masters degree.

  The expected impact will be that master students will be able to make a better choice of study, thereby reducing drop-out rates and costs (for student and institute) and increasing accessibility of higher education and stimulate student mobility.

  The specific objectives are to create guidelines for programme directors who want to create online assessments that show prospective students the content of a master programme and the required levels, transferable (topic independent) pedagogical scenarios for remediation of lacks in knowledge, skills or competences and a set of instructions for staff members involved in online distance education and thereby ensuring higher completion rates in a shorter time-span.
  
  
• Target Groups
  The end users for the project outcomes are all higher education institutions that offer masters programmes and their prospective students.
  
  
• Main activities
  The results of this project will be:
  1) Pedagogical Framework
  2) Assessment Tools
  3) Eight Remedial Teaching Pilots
  
  
• Available outputs
  The results will be presented at a final Conference in the Netherlands, and in a minimum of three publications.
  
  
• Partners
  Universiteit Maastricht (NL), Fachhochschule Lübeck (DE), University of Dundee (UK), Siauliai University (LT)
  
  
• Project website
  www.masterproject.info
  
  
• Contact details
  contact name: Bart Rienties
  organisation: Universiteit Maastricht
  e-mail: Bart.Rienties@ERD.unimaas.nl