5.2.6 Wageningen University and Research - The Netherlands

5.2.6 Wageningen University and Research - The Netherlands

Institution/

Organization

Pedagogical/ Educational Model Wageningen University and Research (The Netherlands)

https://www.wur.nl/en.htm

To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’ is the mission of Wageningen University & Research. Over 6,800 employees and 12,900 students from more than hundred countries work everywhere around the world in the domain of healthy food and living environment for governments and the business community-atlarge.

Wageningen University & Research consists of Wageningen University and several research institutes.

Education & Programmes (own programmes and partners’programmes)

• Bachelor's

• Master's

• Education for professionals • Engineering degree • Online education

o MOOCs

o Professional Programmes o MicroMasters Programmes o Online Masters

o Virtual Exchange programmes • Online master's: student can obtain a full master’s degree from all over the world. The programmes are part-time. • Online master's programmes: completing a MicroMasters student will earn certificate, as well as academic credits

(ECTS). MicroMasters consist of 4 MOOCs, which will allow you to dive deeper into a topic of your choice, without having to obtain a full master's degree. • Free Open and Online Courses (MOOCs) in the fields of

Food, Nutrition and Health; Smart Agriculture; Healthy

Environment and Circular and Biobased Production.

• Virtual Exchange programmes: following an online course at one of the top universities of the world and get credits for it.

Characteristics The domain of Wageningen University & Research consists of four related core areas:

• Biology, Plants & Animals; • Society & Economics; • Environment & Landscape;

• Technology & Nutrition.

The Wageningen programmes are structured according to the Bachelor’s/Master’s system. Student starts the 3-year Bachelor’s programme with a study load of 60 credits per year, total of 180 credits. Student ends this phase by obtaining his Bachelor’s degree (BSc, Bachelor of Science). The BSc degree gives direct access to a subsequent Master’s programme with a 2-year duration. Upon completion of the Master’s phase, student will receive his Master’s degree (MSc, Master of Science). After a Bachelor’s degree, student can often choose from multiple related Master’s programmes.

WUR digital university

• Osiris - to organise your studies and enrol for courses • Brightspace -course material & study programme information

• the WUR Appstore - prepare your laptop to use software in a computer practical

Figure 1. Wageningen University Platform

Virtual Campus / Online tools

OSIRIS Platform

Osiris is Wageningen’s student information system. In Osiris student will find information about his courses, exams, study progress and study program. Student also register in Osiris for courses and exams. Student cannot take courses or take exams at Wageningen University without registering on time. At the start of his Bachelor’s programme, student are automatically registered for the courses and exams of the first term. For the remaining periods student have to register himself

For WUR online courses, student must also enroll via OSIRIS. After student enrolled, student get access to the Brightspace environment with all the information to get student started. For courses offered by partner universities, student can enrol by filling in the application form.

Figure 2. Osiris Platform

MOOCs courses

They believe in life-long flexible learning, and offer MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), programmes for professionals, academic level courses and even complete online masters.

Figure 3. Search online and offline courses for professionals

Figure 4 Brightspace

Source: https://www.wur.nl/

Now, that we have introduced our best practices we want to specify a little more why they are considered good examples.

Utrecht University - The Netherlands

Utrecht University is ranked 15th in Europe 50th in Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and has an overall score of 4.3 stars, according to student reviews on Studyportals, the best place to find out how students rate their study and living experience at universities from all over the world. Utrecht University is one of Europe's leading research universities, recognised internationally for its high-quality, innovative approach to research and teaching. All degree programmes are accredited by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation They offer a ICT Service Desk with Online lectures offered via Team, an Open software via Myworkplace (an online platform) and an online library. Moreover, UU offers the Educate-it

programme. This a university-wide programme supported by and supportive of teachers and students. It helps teachers enhance and future-proof their courses. Besides assisting teachers to (re)design their courses by incorporating the teaching methods and ideas of blended learning, Educate-it also offers practical and technical support for IT tools that have proved their educational value. Educate-it works on an evidence-informed basis.

UNIR (Universidad Internacional de la Rioja) – Spain

UNIR leads several projects as an example of good practices in higher education. One of these projects is called e-inclusion: MEDICI. This work facilitates and supports the sharing of knowledge and replication of good practices among educational agents involved in the einclusion ecosystem, with the hope of building a digital bridge in order to break the digital gap of vulnerable social groups of students. Another interesting practice applied by UNIR is OPEN GAME, which helps professors to adopt the use of open learning resources in an innovative and motivating way. For that purpose, they developed a gamified learning experience. Finally, this university is implementing FUMI, a research project in collaboration with UNESCO. The main goal is to involve universities from more than 50 countries in the implementation of e-learning at virtual universities.

VIU (Universidad Internacional de Valencia)- Spain

The International University of Valencia is a magnificent example of best practices on virtual education. Recently, it has been recognized in the IV Awards for Best Management Practices, awarded by the Club of Excellence in Management within the framework of its XXVIII Annual Forum held in Madrid. This university was honored as a finalist for its project Strategic Redesign of the Virtual Campus to ensure an optimal, sustainable and innovative teachinglearning experience in line with the digital context. Besides, the Virtual Campus of VIU, is one of the best in Spain in user experience. VIU is the only Spanish online university to receive this prestigious international award.

IU (International University of Applied Sciences) – Germany

The International University of Applied Sciences has a membership with the Online Learning Consortium for offering a high standard in its academic offer, including webinars, options for certifications as well as Quality Scorecards which offer ratings for degree programs. During the last course (2020 – 2021), IU International University of Applied Sciences has been recognized in a wide range of categories such as faculty engagement, interaction, and services and technology. With a full five points for the track record and 94% of the degrees available online, this recognition confirms the quality of its online education and inclusive services and support for students. IU International University of Applied Sciences achieved 99 out of 100 points in the QS Stars Report. It is the first German university to receive such a ranking.

The Open University - England & Wales

All educational practices implementing by Open University are focused on learner-centered and achieve highest standards of pedagogical instruction. Its methodology focuses on a specific self-instructional course material. These materials are designed for motivating to online learners and reduce the sense of isolation.

The Open University considers several quality concerns from the learner’s perspective, developing a three-point self-evaluation model regarding to the quality and quantity of learning, the status of the achieved learning process and its relative cost. The Open University has developed ‘Performance Indicators’ in ODL systems for the following purposes: •Tool for Self-Assessment.

•Achieve efficiency of purpose. •Optimal utilization of available resources. •Streamline internal procedures and organizational structures.

Wageningen University and Research - The Netherlands

Wageningen is one of the top-ranked universities in the world. According to influential university rankings, the university ranks world’s best in the field of Agriculture & Forestry. In the Keuzegids Universities 2021 the university ranked as the best university in the Netherlands for the seventeenth time in a row, according to her own students. At the Shanghai Ranking Wageningen is ranked as one of the best 150 universities in the world and Keuzegids ranking,

which compares Dutch universities, in 2021 the university is ranked as the best University in the Netherlands for the seventeeth time in a row.

They have developed a specific project named Digital Twins (DT). This platform is set up to develop knowledge and provide support common topics of a more technical nature. This includes data management, data assimilation, data science techniques, data visualization and DT design processes. The platform organizes lunch meetings, workshops, and lectures. For more specific subjects, exploratory projects can be set up for further deepening. The platform methodology brings together researchers working in flagship projects in the program as well as interested researchers who can actively build beyond these projects. The platform follows new developments for applicable digital technologies that are relevant for the design and use of Digital Twins.