Announcement - Evaluation of Distance Learning Programmes (No. 2)
Following the announcement dated April 29, 2020, which concerns the above matter, the Agency points out the following:
The study guides for each course contain 12-13 weekly, interactive activities that utilize the virtual environment and include simulations, scenarios and problems to be solved, transfer of knowledge to a new environment, research skills, for all courses of a specific programme and more importantly for all postgraduate programmes.
Specifically, it is required to organize online weekly activities, at least 12 for each course, such as:
- Simulations in virtual environments
- Scenarios for problem solving
- Interactive learning and concurrent assessment games
- Activities with image, sound and unlimited possibilities of re-creating reality and further processing on the basis of hypotheses
- Placing students in real life situations so that they can make decisions and consider the consequences of their decisions
- Building skills both in real-life and lived experiences and attitudes- not just memorising knowledge
Based on the above, the study guides will include what the student will watch, experience and participate in during the activities, rather than the lesson plan description.
It is also pointed out that the reference, during the weekly activities, to YouTube accompanied by re-enactment questions, does not constitute an interactive activity but a simple replacement of the text with audio-visual material.
The brief descriptions of the Study Guides per week with reference to objectives, suggested bibliography, expected learning outcomes and student self-assessment exercises, which at their base include comprehension and memorization questions, are not consistent with the level of program activities (Bachelor's/Master's) and are not acceptable.
It is pointed out again that for Master's level programmes, the study guides must also be fully developed in English, so that there is no restriction on the composition of external evaluation committees involving international academics on the basis of the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG).
For the evaluation of four-year degree-level programmes of study, fully developed study guides in English are submitted for the first two years of study and before the end of the first two years, the remaining are submitted with fully developed study guides, as above.
04 May 2020
