May 02, 2023
TU Dresden and EPOKA University Launch Innovative International Course Project for Collaborative Online Learning
Joint trip of TUD and EPOKA students to Saxon Switzerland
As Chair of Information Management (WIIM) we have successfully completed the introductory week of a groundbreaking international course module, "Case Study Development for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)." Offered in English for our Master's and Diploma students in the Faculty of Business and Economics, the course is designed to blend the advantages of both in-person and online learning, creating a unique and engaging educational experience.
We were thrilled to welcome 14 students from EPOKA University in Tirana, Albania, who joined our TU Dresden students for the first workshop block in Dresden. The students will continue their collaboration online in groups, working together before reconvening for the final week at EPOKA University in early June.
Our innovative course project focuses on nurturing 21st-century skills, emphasizing teamwork, interdisciplinarity, internationality/interculturality, and digital competency, in line with the European Union's Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.2) and the DigCompEdu Framework.
During the introductory week in Dresden, we guided students from both universities as they formed international and interdisciplinary working groups. They started exploring COIL concepts, brainstorming initial ideas, and planning their collaborative work for the subsequent online phase. Our students will utilize various digital tools, such as Microsoft Teams and Miro, to complete their work online.
In the final workshop in Tirana, students will present their work, conduct peer reviews, and make their final case studies, tasks, tools, and solution proposals available as open educational resources (OER) on a shared repository. They will also participate in a specially designed Open Educational Practices (OEP) sprint, promoting "participation and self-organization in teaching and learning processes under the conditions of digitization and digitality" (OEP Guide, 2019).
The EPOKA University students have shared their enthusiasm for the introductory week, stating that their time at TU Dresden was an incredible opportunity to broaden their horizons, make new friends, and gain valuable experience that will benefit them both personally and professionally. They also enjoyed exploring the beautiful city of Dresden and its surrounding natural wonders.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with EPOKA University for three years under the inter-institutional Exchange Agreement funded by the European Commission. Our goal is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-benefit ratio of this new blended learning format, draw conclusions for future adjustments in organizational, didactic, and technical aspects, and document our findings in appropriate publications.