Presenter name Institution name - Free Technology Academy A European initiative for distance education about Free Software and Open Standards - - Wouter Tebbens - - Free Knowledge Institute -

Presenter name Institution name Introduction (1) The main factors that hold back the adoption of Free Technologies are lack of awareness and knowledge. There is a growing need for ICT specialists, managers and decision makers knowledgeable on these subjects. Study programmes on Free Technology are still scarce and mainly local. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) runs a pioneering and successful Master Programme on Free Software since 2003.

Presenter name Institution name Introduction (2) The FTA is born to set up an International Master Programme inspired on the UOC's experience. Freedom and Cooperation: ● Distance Learning through a Virtual Campus: 100% free technology. ● All course materials are published as free educational materials. ● All courses are about vendor-independent, free technologies (FS, OS). ● Creation of an international partnership for recognition of courses and sharing of the FTA programme and network.

Presenter name Institution name The FTA in a nutshell FTA On-line Campus > login > partners > course modules > QA & recognition > technology Coaches, lecturers guest lecturers Learners: IT professionals, students, teachers, decision makers Consortium Partners Network Partners On-line Campus: * based on free software * based on open standards Course modules: * concepts of FS & OS * GNU/Linux * Case Studies * Legal aspects * etc. Certification & recognition: * Scientific Council * Compatible & recognised by partners Modules for distance learning

Presenter name Institution name Partners FTA Consortium Partners: Associate Network:

Presenter name Institution name The University Campus Project (1)

Presenter name Institution name The University Campus Project (2) The FTA campus is based on the UC project: Moodle/Sakai as LMS plus a suite of e-learning tools coming from both the UC portfolio and the Free Software community. The FTA campus will cover all basic needs including: ● Virtual classrooms ● Forums ● Chat ● Messaging ● Question banks ● Video conference ● Compatibility with SCORM materials ● Exchange of OER

Presenter name Institution name Curriculum building materials (in pdf + scorm) for eight different modules are being developed by the consortium members: ● Module 1: Concepts of Free Software and Open Standards ● Module 2: GNU/Linux operating system ● Module 3: Network technologies ● Module 4: Web applications development ● Module 5: Economical models ● Module 6: Legal aspects of the Information Society ● Module 7: Software development ● Module 8: Case studies Published as Open Educational Resources under free licenses (like GFDL or CC-BY-SA) that allow them to be used, modified and distributed without any restriction.

Presenter name Institution name Certification and Recognition The learning outcomes and qualifications obtained through the FTA are recognised by all participating universities. ● In the context of their own degree programmes ● By means of bilateral agreements ● Based on international competence frameworks Ultimate goal: international joint master programme Joint Scientific Council to oversee quality assurance

Presenter name Institution name initial programme

Presenter name Institution name Concluding remarks Main challenges: ● Building of a curriculum for FS and OS compatible with the existing e-learning platforms. ● Development of a virtual campus solution to incorporate additional educational tools. ● Implementation of an initial programme enrolling students from different countries. The accreditation and recognition of the FTA courses will be undertaken at the local level by the members of the FTA consortium.

Presenter name Institution name - Wouter Tebbens - - Free Knowledge Institute -