Strengthening the quality of online education in HEIs in Moldova and Armenia

MEDIA

The digital transformation of teaching is currently on the agenda of universities worldwide. The quality assurance of digital higher education offerings is proving to be a key challenge for the stakeholders involved. Universities in Moldova and Armenia are also striving to develop and provide high-quality online learning opportunities. However, there is a lack of standards and benchmarks in the regions concerned to ensure the appropriate quality of digital teaching.

Goals and contents

The MEDIA project therefore aims to support partner countries Armenia and Moldova in the development and establishment of sustainable quality standards and instruments in the higher education sector. The project is not only intended to address the needs of individual institutions, but also to bring about a more far-reaching reform of the national higher education systems. This ambitious objective is reflected in the composition of the transnational MEDIA consortium: education ministries from Armenia and Moldova are on board as project partners and would like to see relevant products and solutions that can be recommended at national level. Together with European partners from Finland and Latvia, the FHM will make its established concepts of good online teaching available and pass on its experience from numerous research and development projects on similar topics to the partners.

The expected results of the project include, above all, national quality standards for online teaching as well as expanded university capacities in Armenia and Moldova to develop and provide high-quality digital learning opportunities.

Project Results

The CREDinGREEN project, launched in 2022 with an international consortium of Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Austrian partners, was successfully completed in spring 2024. The project started under the impact of the Covid pandemic and addressed the question of how tourism SMEs could use the crisis to design future-oriented products while also becoming more resilient. In this context, two European instruments were examined that should have a positive influence on the sustainable orientation of tourism companies:

The European Green Deal with the opportunities for a sustainable design of tourism offers, including through programs such as Farm to Fork, which have an influence on gastronomy by, for example, regionalizing the food chain.
The instrument of microcredentials, i.e. European certificates to optimize and standardize lifelong vocational training.

The project concluded with the following 3 results, which were officially presented to the public at the beginning of March 2024 in the context of ITB Berlin:

1. CREDinGREEN Report on the situation of tourism 2022

Tourism managers were invited to take part in a survey at the beginning of the project in 2022, which provided information about the situation of tourism SMEs in the participating countries. With 355 participants, there is a solid basis for the evaluation, which, in addition to extensive literature research, provides deep insights into the companies. In addition to the survey, expert interviews were conducted with participants from the tourism and education sectors.

The study provides valuable insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic and EU Green Deal policies have changed tourism behavior in Europe. The results underscore the evolving services, knowledge, and skills that tourism managers must adapt to remain competitive and sustainable in this changing landscape.

By understanding the dynamics, tourism managers can better navigate the challenges and opportunities of the current global landscape. Read on to discover the detailed findings and recommendations of the study.

2. CREDinGREEN Training course for vocational education and training in sustainable tourism

The vocational education and training program aims to retrain managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector. The program teaches how tourism providers can meet the evolving needs of the market in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and under the influence of EU Green Deal policies.

The online training offers the opportunity to equip tourism managers across Europe with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the post-pandemic situation and adopt sustainable practices. The program focuses on promoting resilience, innovation, and sustainability in tourism management.

The training program is an essential step for tourism managers who want to adapt to rapidly changing market dynamics and sustainability requirements. By participating in this program, managers can be better prepared to lead their companies into a sustainable and successful future in the tourism industry.

3. CREDinGREEN strategy paper

The strategy paper contains a comprehensive set of recommendations for policymakers in education and training. It can help ensure the sustainable integration of microcredentials into VET systems and promote the EU Green Deal through innovative training programs in the tourism sector.

The materials serve as an important resource for education and training policymakers. By providing actionable recommendations, it supports the sustainable integration of microcredentials in VET and the advancement of the EU Green Deal. This strategy paper aims to drive systemic change and ensure that VET systems across Europe are able to meet the changing needs of the tourism sector and contribute to a sustainable future.

All results can be found in detail on the project website: www.credingreen.com/results