Maastricht, Netherlands
EADTU is the leading institutional network for innovative online, open and flexible universities and is at the heart of the modernisation agenda. It is committed to the Bologna Process and the ET2020 Strategy. Key activities are related to empowering universities in their transition to student-centred online/blended learning; organising online, open and flexible education through inclusive structures and methods, taking HE to students when and where they need it, during all stages of life; promoting quality assurance and accreditation for OOF-HE; opening up education through OERs and MOOCs; flexibilising continuing education and closing the skills gap by short micro- credential programs; organising collaborative programs and mobility, where students learn across national, sectoral and institutional boundaries; and understanding the changing pedagogical landscape in Europe. EADTU has a membership of 25 European countries (represented by online, open and distance teaching Universities, national higher education associations or single universities) covering 200 universities and more than 3 million students. EADTU offers support to European and national authorities, to HEinstitutions, European Universities and other relevant stakeholders by policy events in higher education and sharing expertise within higher education communities. In addition, EADTU is coordinator of the European MOOC Consortium (EMC) representing 400 higher education institutions and over 3000 MOOCs.
Skills of key persons involved in the project
EADTU is an experienced EU project partner representing expertise of leading universities European wide in online, open and flexible education. This is supported by 2 main portals of EADTU called: EMPOWERing universities, a repository of publications, video-webinars and experts in the field of online education and a special webpage on COVID-19 support for higher education institutions. E-xcellence, as a benchmarking tool for offering quality online education. Now used by over 50 universities in Europe and working closely together with ENQA. EADTU further represents expertise in blended education by its European Maturity Model for Blended Education (EMBED). George Ubachs is Managing Director of EADTU, the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities. EADTU is Europe’s institutional association of leading universities in online, open and flexible higher education, and is at the heart of the modernisation agenda of European universities. George Ubachs is responsible for the development and support of the EADTU network, policies and execution of its goals in online, open and flexible higher education. He is coordinator of international academic cooperation networks on networked curricula, virtual mobility and on business models for lifelong learning. He is further coordinator of the European MOOC Consortium (EMC), representing the Common Microcredential Framework (CMF) and the E-xcellence movement on quality assurance in online, open and flexible education. In this position, EADTU is leading the ICDE- NESCO focal point for QA in online education for Europe. With the EMPOWERing universities network, EADTU represents some 80 experts that cover 12 specific fields of expertise related to online, open and flexible education. As coordinator of these networks he is working closely with the EUA, ENQA, ESU, ICDE and Unesco. Before joining EADTU in 2002, George Ubachs has been working on various European programmes in the public and private sector in the field of regional social economic developments and was coordinator of the European Network of E2CEurope (Cities for Second Chance Schools). George Ubachs graduated at State University of Leiden and Erasmus University Rotterdam on Public Administration with specialization in European Integration.
