Schlagwort: alliance

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[publication] Open Educational Resources for Legal Clarity, Sustainability, and Digital Sovereignty in European University Alliances #tugraz

We summarized the importance of Open Education Resources, especially for Digital Sovereignty. Our paper titled „Open Educational Resources for Legal Clarity, Sustainability, and Digital Sovereignty in European University Alliances“ is now available online.

Abstract:
Open educational resources (OER) are widely recognized for improving access to education and enabling the sharing of knowledge. However, in the context of European university alliances such as Unite!, OER offer additional, often underappreciated benefits that are crucial for cross-border collaboration and sustainable development in higher education. This paper explores three key aspects of OER that are particularly relevant to European alliances. First, OER enable the legally secure use of educational resources across national borders, addressing uncertainties about copyright laws, particularly for translations and adaptations. This ensures compliance with different legal frameworks while fostering collaboration. Second, OER support sustainability by ensuring that investments in educational materials are not limited by restrictive usage rights. This is especially critical in alliances where shared resources are central to fostering long-term cooperation and aligning with sustainability goals, a priority for Unite!. Finally, OER contribute to digital sovereignty by empowering institutions and educators to create, adapt, and share resources without relying on proprietary platforms or licenses. This coincides with European alliances’ broader strategic objective of promoting autonomy and resilience in their digital ecosystems. By highlighting these often-overlooked benefits of OER, the present research aims to broaden the perspective on their strategic importance in fostering collaboration, sustainability, and sovereignty within European university alliances.

[full paper @ publisher’s homepage]
[full paper @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Schön, S., & Ebner, M. (2025). Beyond Open Access: Open Educational Resources for Legal Clarity, Sustainability, and Digital Sovereignty in European University Alliances. Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.34669/wi.wjds/5.4.2

This is an impactful contributions, methodological rigor, and exceptional novelty in the research field of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Digital Sovereignty.

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[publication] Implementing Multilingual MOOCs in European University Alliances with the Help of AI Usage, LTI and Open Licenses: Technical and Organizational Challenges #mooc #research #tugraz

Our publication about „Implementing Multilingual MOOCs in European University Alliances with the Help of AI Usage, LTI and Open Licenses: Technical and Organizational Challenges“ is now online available.

Abstract:
Producing and delivering MOOCs within European university alliances presents technical, organizational, and licensing challenges, particularly regarding multilingual accessibility, interoperability, and platform integration. This paper examines these challenges through a case study of the “Open Educational Resources in Higher Education” MOOC, developed with all partner institutions of the Unite! university alliance. The course was produced in all official alliance languages and used AI-driven tools (HeyGen) to generate multilingual instructor avatars for efficient localization. A key aspect of this MOOC was its open licensing approach. By adopting a Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0) license, the course materials were designed for reuse and dissemination across different educational contexts. To ensure broad accessibility, the MOOC was made available on the Austrian national MOOC platform iMooX.at and embedded within Unite! Metacampus, the alliance’s federated LMS. For this, Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) for cross-platform interactions was used. Through LTI, course activities and materials on iMooX.at were linked to Metacampus, allowing users to access materials, track progress, and interact within a unified learning environment. This strategy supported federated access and engagement across institutional systems. This paper outlines the technical and organizational strategies used in developing the MOOC, discussing key challenges and providing recommendations for openly licensed, AI-supported, and LTI-integrated MOOCs within European university alliances. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of structuring cross-institutional MOOCs that are pedagogically, technologically, and organizationally sustainable while advancing open education principles in higher education.

[full article @ publisher’s homepage]
[full article @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Ebner, M., Schön, S., Gasplmayr, K., Taraghi, B. (2026). Implementing Multilingual MOOCs in European University Alliances with the Help of AI Usage, LTI and Open Licenses: Technical and Organizational Challenges. In: Hamonic, E., Sharrock, R. (eds) Digital Education: Shaping Sustainable Lifelong Learning for All in the Era of AI. EMOOCS 2025. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 15733. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-00056-9_15

This is an impactful contributions, methodological rigor, and exceptional novelty in the research field of AI in education.

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[publication] Work-in-Progress: Key Prerequisites for IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching of the European University Alliance “Unite!” #alliance #tugraz

We wrote a short work-in-progress publication about „Work-in-Progress: Key Prerequisites for IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching of the European University Alliance “Unite!”

Abstract:
In the dynamic landscape of higher education, digital technologies are crucial for fostering collaboration and knowledge dissemination. European universities are embracing this shift through “European Universities”, transnational alliances aimed at enhancing academic exchange and innovation. The Unite! alliance, as part of its Erasmus+ project, established the “Community Digital Campus” (Cm.2) to develop a modern digital campus framework. Based on an analysis to identify and document the technological, organizational, and legal needs for such a campus, using desk research, surveys, and stakeholder discussions, key requirements are formulated. Key requirements identified include ensuring interoperability among digital infrastructures, robust decision-making processes for IT, strategic support for existing systems, and addressing budgetary considerations for federated systems.

[article @ book’s homepage]
[draft @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Ebner, M. et al. (2025). Work-in-Progress: Key Prerequisites for IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching of the European University Alliance “Unite!”. In: Auer, M.E., Rüütmann, T. (eds) Futureproofing Engineering Education for Global Responsibility. ICL 2024. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 1260. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-85652-5_34

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[presentation] The Metacampus as a Teaching Hub for the Unite! Alliance #unite #moodle

For the 2nd Unite!-Ed Future Conference, Katharina presented details about the Metacampus, titled „The Metacampus as a Teaching Hub for the Unite! Alliance„:

The Unite! alliance has developed the Metacampus, a federated LMS based on Moodle, to facilitate seamless collaboration and resource sharing among partner universities. This presentation showcases how the Metacampus supports teaching and learning across the alliance by addressing diverse needs and enabling innovative approaches. Key use cases where the Metacampus proves particularly beneficial are outlined, along with resources created to guide users, including detailed documentation, courses, and instructional videos (produced with AI avatars). Activities such as targeted training sessions and the streamlined submission of requests and special requirements via an integrated request form are highlighted. LTI pilot activities, aimed at integrating local LMS systems with the Metacampus, are presented, along with insights from regular E-Learning Support Group meetings. Success stories demonstrate the platform’s impact and potential for enhancing collaboration within Unite!. In conclusion, challenges extending beyond technical solutions are addressed, such as the lack of incentives to adopt Unite!-specific courses or to fully utilize the Metacampus. These insights foster dialogue on how to further support teaching and learning within the Unite! alliance.

Find the slides here:

Gasplmayr, K., Schön, S., Alcober, J., Ebner, M., & Molins, X. (2025, März 13). The Metacampus as a Teaching Hub for the Unite! Alliance. Presentation at the Unite! Ed Future Conference 2025, March 13, 2025. Graz University of Technology. https://doi.org/10.3217/eeqtz-1f759

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[publication] Examining IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching in the European University Alliance Unite! #UNITE! #tugraz

Together with my colleagues, we contributed to the EUNIS 2024 conference in Athen with a publication about „Examining IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching in the European University Alliance Unite!„

Abstract: In the digital era, European University Alliances like „Unite!“ work to reshape tertiary education by bridging nine prominent universities to champion regional integration, technology transfer, and quality science and engineering education. This paper delineates the methodologies used to harmonize varied IT infrastructures visualizations and descriptions across partner institutions, fostering knowledge sharing and facilitating standardized IT landscape comparisons. The absence of a general universal approach in representing teaching-related IT systems in higher education propelled the development of a unique, synchronized representation methodology. The paper offers a look at TU Graz’s digital infrastructure as an illustrative example. Through iterative collaboration, the alliance will develop a comprehensive IT infrastructure report, aiming to serve as a valuable blueprint for other educational entities.

[publication @ EasyChair]
[publication @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Ebner, M., Schön, S., Alcober, J., Bertonasco, R., Herczak-Ciara, A., Hoppe, C., Langevin, E., Gasplmayr, K., Reignier-Tayar, N., Martikainen, J., Laurent, R., Leitner, P., Petersson, J., Silva, F. M. D., Steitz, K., Taraghi, B., & Wuerz, A. (2025). Examining IT Infrastructures for Learning and Teaching in the European University Alliance Unite! In R. Vogl, L. Desnos, J.-F. Desnos, S. Bolis, L. Merakos, G. Ferrell, E. Tsili, & M. Roumeliotis (Hrsg.), Proceedings of EUNIS 2024 annual congress in Athens (Band 105, S. 276-283). (EPiC Series in Computing). EasyChair Ltd. https://doi.org/10.29007/6n28

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[publication] The Development of “Teaching Management Patterns” from the Perspective of IT Infrastructure as a tool for consulting and further development in a European university alliance #tugraz #unite #research

Our this year’s publication at ED-Conference 2024 in Brussels was about Teaching Management Patterns and titled „The Development of “Teaching Management Patterns” from the Perspective of IT Infrastructure as a tool for consulting and further development in a European university alliance„

Abstract:
This paper introduces Teaching Management Patterns (TMP) as a descriptive and communicative framework for addressing challenges and decision-making processes related to IT infrastructure in the Unite! European university alliance. The aim is to support decision-making and consultation in utilizing the alliance’s IT infrastructure effectively. TMP offer abstract descriptions for educational scenarios, considering factors such as organizational structures, technical capabilities, legal frameworks, and didactic requirements. The paper presents the development of these patterns specifically for the Unite! alliance, highlighting their role in decision support for using the transversal, alliance wide learning management system, Metacampus. Three exemplary cases are presented to illustrate the challenges, including continuing education for staff, joint lectures involving multiple universities, and research contributions. The patterns are categorized based on their compatibility with Metacampus, providing visual representations. The paper also introduces a decision tree as a counseling tool for determining the appropriateness of using Metacampus, considering legal and organizational restrictions. In conclusion, TMP offer a systematic approach for addressing IT infrastructure complexities in a European university alliance. The presented patterns and decision tree serve as valuable consultation tools for decision-making processes regarding the use of the alliance’s IT infrastructure.

[article @ publisher’s homepage]
[article @ ResearchGate]

Reference: Schön, S., Gasplmayr, K., Ebner, M., Alcober, J., Hoppe, C., Koschutnig-Ebner, M., de Silva, F.M. & Taraghi, B. (2024). The Development of “Teaching Management Patterns” from the Perspective of IT Infrastructure as a tool for consulting and further development in a European university alliance. In T. Bastiaens (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia + Innovate Learning (pp. 137-146). Brussels, Belgium: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved July 22, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/224515/.

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[open education] OER about OER #training #OER

We are excited to announce the publication of our new resource: OER about OER  – Materials, Tools, and Methods. This collection, was initiated by Sandra Schön and me and enriched by the Unite! OER Courses project is designed to support educators, trainers, and institutions in developing and delivering Open Educational Resources (OER) courses.

The document includes practical insights into planning and running OER trainings, introduces open licenses, and provides templates, exercises, and creative methods like the „OER business model cards“ to help spark
discussions on sustainable OER use. Whether you’re new to OER or looking to deepen your knowledge, this resource is a valuable tool for expanding your understanding and application of OER in educational settings.

You can access the full document at https://doi.org/10.3217/5bq59-j6c60

Cite it: Schön, Sandra & Ebner, Martin (2024). OER about OER. Materials, tools & methods. A collection of Open Educational Resources materials, tools and methods. Report of the Unite! OER Courses project, August 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.3217/5bq59-j6c60

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[mooc] Week 2: Open Educational Resources in Higher Education #tugraz #unite! #imoox #OER

Our MOOC on „Open Educational Resources in Higher Education“ for the European alliance UNITE! is reaching the second week. This time we are talking about how to find and use OER. There are some useful hints – so join us for free 🙂

And don’t to forget to change the language, all videos are offered in 11 different languages: [free registration link to the open course]

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[course] Exploring Open Educational Resources: Unite! course offerings #unite!

We are very happy that we can announce our UNITE! course on Open Educational Resources (OER) for at least all partner universities but also beyond:

Dive into the realm of OER, where educational materials are openly accessible, editable, and shareable. Discover how to utilize OER ethically and effectively, and earn badges and credits for your accomplishments!

[press release @ UNITE!’s homepage]
[MOOC @ imoox.at for free access]