Project Description

Through this project we hope to create a fun and innovative digital tool that can demystify university life and introduce new students to core academic skills and the literacy practices needed for university success. The course will constitute of digital-based pedagogy that will increase students’ active learning and make them more prepared for university life.

Our main priorities and topics are:

• Innovative practices in a digital era
• Supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences
• Building inclusive higher education systems

The main goal of the proposed project is to supply European incoming first-year students with an innovative video-based digital pedagogic learning tool to enhance their socioeducational and personal competences and support the development of key academic skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, cooperation, and study competences. This will build a strong foundation for university success and will minimize their risk of dropping out.

The digital design of this project will enable students to increase their academic skills by offering more active, fun, and flexible student-focused learning. By using digital technology, students will be able to prepare for entry into university independently before they step onto a university campus.

The digital tool will be made freely available as an open resource on the internet, accessible from all PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

While this project is aimed at all students, it has the potential to reach the most marginalized student populations and support their transition into university life. Particular groups of interest are students who are first in family or first-generation university students, students of immigrant background, students are coming back to school after having worked and/or raised families for years and students are accessing distance education. Still other students face barriers to accessing the university buildings or services due to a variety of disabilities. It is more important than ever for institutions to ensure that information and support are accessible to all students, not just those who are physically able to attend on-campus orientations, classes, and other events. This project speaks exactly to that need.

Furthermore, making it a European project will provide transparency and recognition of academic skills and qualifications between the partner countries and the rest of Europe.

Students will become familiar with the concept of student mobility and exchange from the beginning through knowledge about other European universities and the European student identity in the different course modules. The exchange of modules between the three partners will familiarize the students with the partner institutions, inviting further exchange.