European Virtual Seminar on sustainable development

The aim of the EVS (European Virtual Seminar on Sustainable Development) is to promote an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues between students from all over Europe by using modern ICT. In this seminar students are directly confronted with different views and opinions on sustainable development issues. Views and opinions that are highly related to different social, cultural, political, economic and environmental backgrounds students are living in.

What’s the EVS about?  collaborative learning  place and time independent learning  using modern information and communication technology  promoting an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues in Europe  co-operation between institutions for higher education

Short history  2000 small project funding by the EU: coordinated by the Open Universiteit Nederland & COPERNICUS-CAMPUS  2001 pilot: 6 institutions, 50 students, 6 groups, 3 cases  st run: 12 institutions, 45 students, 9 groups, 4 cases  nd run: 15 institutions, 70 students, 11 groups, 5 cases  rd run: 20 institutions…students,...groups,...cases

EVS partners

Didactic concept

pedagogy  collaborative learning via internet  international and multidisciplinary compound groups  two phases in EVS course: – individual: electronic learning environment and team building – group: research proposal, research, group report, policy summary  assessment and marking: – group products (report and policy summary) by the expert – group process (cooperation group members) by the tutor

content  overall theme: Sustainable Development in Europe  case studies –European Union and the agricultural policy. Case: Poland –European spatial planning and policy. Case: the regions with the Mediterranean forest Dehesa –Integrated water management. Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. Case: Danube –Nature and biodiversity conservation. Case: Rumanian forests –The Lisbon Strategy. Case: Making Europe the most competitive (+ sustainable?) region of the world –Lakes in Sweden –Sustainable enterprises

community  student groups: international & multidisciplinary (4-6 members)  tutors: coaching and assessing group process  experts: assessing group products  institutional coordinators: project management & formal issues

electronic learning environment  web based course materials  communication and interaction between students (and staff) facilitated by modern ICT  communication tools: ‒ group areas (open and secured) ‒ electronic discussion boards ‒ chat facilities ‒ facilities

Students participation To participate in the EVS students should: ­be interested in sustainable development issues ­be interested in group work ­be able to read and write English ­have access to a computer and internet connection ­have an open mind to E-learning

EVS–run  start 20 October  end 17 January  studyload hours (8-10 hours a week)  20 institutions in 13 European countries  a lot of different disciplines  3 physical meetings at your institution (today, middle, end)  focus on virtual cooperation with students from all over Europe in small groups (4-6 group members)  assistence by coordinators, tutors, experts  publication in the COPERNICUS Open Science Resource on Sustainable Development

EVS screen dumps: webportal

main menu

content area (case study Danube)

communication area: a group discussion board

group products - report

More information? EVS: