The Mediterranean Virtual University MVU Initiative

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The Mediterranean Virtual University (MVU)
Initiative

• A EUMEDIS Strand 2 Project
• (519)
• An introductory presentation by Local MVU
  Coordinator, Dr. Ernest Cachia

The views expressed in this presentation do not
necessarily reflect the views of the European
Commission
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Stated MVUObjective

• Develop and deliver high quality, relevant
  online courses which meet the requirements of
  industry and individuals

The logo Digitised multi-toned sea
waves, symbolic of waves from the
azure Mediterranean carrying information from
various, yet collaborating, sources. All emerging
from a European Union initiative.
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The MVU Initiative

• To offer students in the Mediterranean region
  quality online education and training through
  courses designed and maintained through the
  collaboration of various educational
  establishments.
• Key course attributes
• Accessibility
• Collaboration
• Flexibility
• Actuality
• Encompassing

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MVU Project Direction

• University of Strathclyde (UoS), Glasgow,
  Scotland, UK.
• (Through Mr. Niall Sclater from UoS Learning
  Services)

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MVU Project Reach
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MVU Project Partners (1/2)
DENMARK - Aalborg University
EGYPT - Ain Shams University
LEBANON American University of Beirut
PALESTINE Birzeit University
CYPRUS University of Cyprus
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MVU Project Partners (2/2)
PALESTINE The Islamic University of Gaza
JORDAN Jordan University of Science and
Technology
MALTA The University of Malta
TURKEY Sabanci University
PALESTINE Welfare Association (retired)
PALESTINE - Institute for Development Studies
U.K. University of Strathclyde
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MVU Project Data (1/2)

• Project started in 16th July 2004
• Project to end in 16th August 2006
• i.e. 25 month duration
• Project budget
• Over 4 million
• Maltese partner budget share
• 180,466.00
• of which UoM to contribute 40,529.00
• Therefore, giving overall project funding of
  139,937

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MVU Project Data (2/2)

• Clean funding
• 139,937
• Not inclusive of travel and per diem costs
• Hard/Software allocation from above
• 65,365
• Other project costs
• 74,572
• Although reasonably accurate, actual partner
  hardware allocations are still in finalisation
  stage

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The Maltese Partnership

• Entirely constituted of University of Malta
  entities
• Department of Computer Science and Artificial
  Intelligence Faculty of Science
• Through Dr. Ernest Cachia as local project
  manager and content expert
• Department of Manufacturing Engineering Faculty
  of Engineering
• Through Dr. Ing. Jonathan Borg as content expert
  and MVU steering committee member

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MVU Staff and Support

• CSAI
• Dr. Ernest Cachia (Local project manager and
  content expert)
• Mr. Mark Micallef (Coordinator and course
  developer)
• Mr. Vincent Sammut (as CSAI dept. secretary)
• DME
• Dr. Ing. Jonathan Borg (Content expert)
• Mr. Christopher Spiteri (Course developer)
• Mrs. Sharlene Cachia (as DME dept. secretary)

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The Maltese Involvement

• Development (design and content) of five
  e-Learning courses
• Three by the Department of Computer Science and
  A.I.
• Two by the Department of Manufacturing
  Engineering
• The recruitment of necessary staff
• Attendance and involvement in all project
  meetings, workshops and sub-committees
• Hosting of a MVU laboratory

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MVU Pilot Courses

• Technically-oriented (at least initially)
• Piloted through ICT courses
• Mostly (but not entirely) modelled according to
  the current ACM syllabus
• 40 courses between 8 partners
• Each course equivalent to 5 ECTS credits

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Maltese MVU Development

• 5 courses in all as follows
• 3 courses being developed by CSAI
• Software Engineering Theory and Practice
• Linux Usage and Applications
• Rapid Business Application Development
• 2 courses being developed by DME
• Computer-Aided Engineering Design
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing

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MVU Course Attributes

• Exclusively online
• As interactive as possible
• Relevant to the needs of society
• Far-reaching and accessible
• Use of video-streamed delivery methods
• Supplemented by discussion forums
• Feature online assessment
• Based on a dynamic and reactive curriculum

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Project Aims

• Current
• Building the infrastructure for a collaborative
  international university in the Mediterranean
  region
• Intended
• The establishment of a virtual university,
  complete with administrative structures,
  registration, accreditation, and equivalency
  models.

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Thank you(Project website www.med-vu.org)