Versatile and Innovative open educational resources for collaborative Virtual andmobile learning Arrangements in HE

<< Background >>The VIVA project aimed at addressing one of the many features that characterized thedigital transformation our society was undergoing, namely the digitalization of the teaching and learning experiences, especially in the higher education sector. As recognized by an OECD report released in 2020, due to the Covid-19 health emergency, HEIs had to reinvent their activities to ensure the continuity of education by offering online classes and learning experiences as a substitute for in-class time. However, the same report also highlighted that these institutions were often found unprepared and unable to deliverinstruction through new interactive means due to a lack of competences (OECD, 2020).Covid19 certainly accelerated the pace of the digital transformation in the learning and education sector, but all the elements to detect a significant turn to the digital were already there and many related processes were already unfolding. This project acknowledged the digital transformation described above and wanted to contribute to the definition of the teaching and learning of tomorrow by fostering the integration and implementation of design-based collaborative learning practices into HEIs, with a specific focus on universities.<< Objectives >>The VIVA project, with its clear European influence, aimed to achieve an overall objective and several specific objectives.OVERALL OBJECTIVE: The project aimed to increase the effectiveness of online teaching and learning by enhancing the skills and competences of HE professionals in planning and delivering innovative teaching and learning practices.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:-Development of a common competence framework to evaluate individual andinstitution-wide progress in acquiring new relevant digital and educational skills.-Implementation of a strategy for integrating design-based collaborative learning (based on action research reports from pilots, methodology for applying Design learning in HE, and quality standards).-Creation of a Continuous Professional Development Programme for Educators in HE (including concept, materials, platform, and C1 course).The VIVA project aimed to enhance the digital readiness, resilience, and capacity of educators in the HE sector by establishing a Continuous Professional DevelopmentProgramme and designing a comprehensive competence framework to assess progress in acquiring new relevant digital and educational skills at the European level.<< Implementation >>VIVA aimed to maximize the potential of rich, open educational resources in asynchronous and synchronous learning to enhance traditional teaching and learning in the HE sector. The project focused on developing high-quality digital learning and explored learning formats that had not yet been extensively addressed in web-based learning:●Collaborative learning linked to creativity and innovation: VIVA explored available online learning tools and developed didactic learning arrangements with a special emphasis on design thinking, product, and project development.●Competence-Oriented Learning and validation: The project aimed to foster learning arrangements that deviated from traditional frontal teaching methods, focusing on planning and delivering digitally supported learning in informal and non-formal settings.●Virtual mobile learning: VIVA sought to develop supportive virtual mobility formats that promoted collaborative projects among students, trainees, and apprentices from different European countries, facilitating virtual mobility in collaborative projects and creating new joint learning activities during placements.To achieve these goals, VIVA endeavoured to qualify relevant HE stakeholders in designing, delivering, and applying digitally enhanced teaching and learning. A comprehensive training program for HE staff on Competence-Oriented Learning and Validation (COL&V) was developed, with a focus on innovative blended learning arrangements.VIVA developed various products and outputs, including:●Inventory and comparison of available good practices, with a focus on Open Educational Resources (OER) for synchronous and asynchronous tools and instruments.●Competence framework for HE professionals to plan and deliver high-quality digital teaching and learning.●Inventory of suitable didactical models to support digitally supported teaching and learning.●Development of an OER infrastructure with a pool of synchronous and asynchronous tools for European HE institutes.●European Continuous Professional Development course for HE personnel.●Action research findings on innovative teaching and learning approaches in different HEI and learning environments.●Guidelines, recommendations, and quality criteria for integrating the VIVA approach at various levels.<< Results >>The project was organized into four content-related work packages, which produced the main results:2.Competence Framework: This package focused on developing a Competence Framework for HE trainers, program designers, and learners to enhance self-learning competences using digital learning approaches and devices (digital learning literacy). Sub-outputs included a competence framework (competence catalogue), descriptions of sub-competences, reference systems on each competence, and connection to the EQF/ECVET taxonomy. The derived VIVA competence repository was a four-field cluster with 26 competences.3.Design-based collaborative learning integration strategy: This result provided a comprehensive integration framework to apply the VIVA approach on micro (programme level), mezzo (organizational level), and macro (trans-organizational and trans-sectoral level). Action research results were crucial in drafting guidelines and recommendations for flexible implementation in specific professional and learning contexts. Sub-outputs included action research reports, video testimonials, a YouTube channel with expert insights, a methodological framework (recommendations and guidelines), and quality criteria.4.CPD Concept for Educators in HE: Based on the competence framework and action research results, this package established Competence-Oriented Learning and Validation course curriculum and modules. The interactive platform (e-Portfolio, LMS, and Validation system) facilitated blended learning and seamless integration of e-learning, validation software, and e-portfolio functionalities. Sub-outputs included CPD learning modules and the VIVA interactive platform (provide-eu.org), which offers approximately 45 courses of continuous professional development for teachers and subject trainers, conference and job shadowing opportunities.VIVA included practical Learning Activities: a Joint transnational learning activity (online) for HE staff (C1), which was a Continuous Professional Development course for educational professionals in HE, and an Intercultural blended learning activity for HE students (C2), which involved a course on design-based collaborative learning culminating in an intercultural co-creation week in Greece. The VIVA Final Conference brought together European stakeholders from different sectors and was connected to the VIVA award, recognizing innovative projects in Competence-Oriented Learning in connection with validation. Also, a VIVA learning platform: https://moodle.viva-eu.org/ was established to further promote innovative learning courses that emerged in the project.The Pilot implementation reports reveal course attendance differentiated by different partners of the consortium:-Blinc: the course was attended by 3 staff members;-Vilnius University: the course was attended by 10 participants;-UDE: The modules were piloted with a group of 10 students in WS/SS 2022;-UNS: The course was piloted with a group of six students;-SmartRevolution: The course was attended by two interns and one employee;-AuTH: The course was attended by 29 students, 6 of them were certified.Video testimonials of course participants are available here: https://www.youtube.com/@VIVA665/featured (15 distinct videos with feedback from participants.