Syrian Virtual University

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Syrian Virtual University
A Case Of Challenges for an infrastructure
dependant university
EUMEDGRID 2007 Importance of NRENs and
e-Infrastructures Wednesday September 5th,
2007 Anas Tarah
2
Virtual Education?
Syrian Virtual University
SVU programs/students
SVU Infrastructure
Challenges
3
Virtual Education

• Modern Technology and Educational Methods
• Anywhere Anytime
• Wide range of specializations through e-campus
• Work and study at the same time (L3)
• More interaction in class
• Peer-to-peer learning
• Self-learning
• Learning from Experts

4
Learning Process

• Five Components
• Students
• Teachers
• Content
• Interaction
• Assessment/Evaluation

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Learning Process

• In a conventional classroom

Students
Assessment
Proctored exams Take home exams Projects Class
Participation Assignments
Face-to-face Interaction
Interaction
Static
Teacher
Content
Transmits knowledge to student
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Learning Process

• In a virtual classroom

Students
Assessment
Proctored exams Take home exams Projects Class
Participation Assignments
Learner
Rich, Dynamic Interactive
Interaction
Teacher
Content
Static content Teachers explanation skills
Facilitates and supervises student learning
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Virtual Education?
Syrian Virtual University
SVU programs
Case Study
Challenges
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The Syrian Virtual University
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Syrian Virtual University

• Advanced Technological Platform
• Integrated virtual environment for
• Student
• Employee/administrator/professor/ researcher

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Virtual University

• Similar to conventional universities
• All student activities and tasks can be performed
• Automated electronic administration
• Developed interactive content
• Virtual Classrooms

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Virtual University

• Learning Management System (LMS)
• Managing course registration.
• Tracking Student Registration, Access and
  progress.
• Managing course Information.
• Course scheduling and administration including
  instructors and physical facilities.
• Reporting

• Learning Objects
• Learning Objectives
• Learning Path
• Pre and post Assessment

Reusable Flexible Content Development
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SVU Model

• Infrastructure Access/Technology
• - Telecenters with PCs and internet
  connection
• Language
• - Preparatory year / Develop Arabic
  Programs
• Payment difficulties
• - Develop Arabic degrees at affordable fees

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SVU Model

• Learning Model
• E-content / LMS
• Asynchronous communications
• Asynchronous sessions
• Synchronous sessions / Webdemo
• Recorded sessions
• Virtual classroom

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SVU Model

• Administrative Difficulties
• Establish virtual communities of experts of
  Middle Eastern origin and Western Education
• Provide services career planning, admissions
  requirements, guidance, advising, graduation
  requirements
• Perform market needs assessment and generate a
  list of wanted fields

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SVU Model

• Provides the student with
• 1. Latest International Specializations
• 2. Cultural Embracement
• Interaction changed
• 1. From environment-to-individual
• 2. To environment-to-environment

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Virtual Education?
Syrian Virtual University
SVU programs
Case Study
Challenges
17
SVU Sample Programs

• Associate degree
• High National Diploma
• Bachelors
• Business information technology
• Marketing Economy
• Law
• Engineering
• Information system Engineering
• Diploma
• Educational habilitation diploma
• Masters
• Webology
• Technology management
• MBA
• Quality Control

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SVU Sample Programs

• High National Diploma
• Associate Degrees In E-Commerce
• Internet Studies.
• Web Development and Programming
• Management
• Marketing
• General Business
• In Association with Edexcel
• Arabic English

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SVU Sample Programs

• Business Information Technology
• Bachelor Degrees
• IT
• Management.
• Marketing.
• General Business
• English
• Top-up for Associate degrees

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SVU Sample Programs
Information Systems Engineering 160 credit based
engineering degree 10 different
specializations 4 years (3 semesters/year)
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SVU Sample Programs

• Diploma in Educational Habilitation
• Diploma for bachelors looking for teaching
  habilitation
• One year program with 11 courses.
• Practical (In-class teaching course)
• 10 courses in education and psychology

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Virtual Education?
Syrian Virtual University
SVU programs
Case Study
Challenges
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Diploma in Educational Habilitation A Case
Study
The Ministry of Education need to rehabilitate
54,000 school teachers to the education
era. Spread over 18,000 schools in all Syrian
Governorates 100,000 new students every year
means at least additional 2,000 new teacher
yearly
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Diploma in Educational Habilitation A Case
Study

• Available alternatives
• - Conventional Universities
• - Open Universities
• - Virtual University
• A pilot project of 7000 learner in open
  university.
• A pilot project with around 1700 learner in
  virtual education.

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Diploma in Educational Habilitation A Case
Study

• General education and philosophy of education
• Comparative education and education in the Arab
  world
• Syllabus
• Teaching principles
• Teaching techniques
• Teaching Methods

• Educational Psychology
• Childhood and teenage psychology
• Psychological health
• Evaluation measurement
• In-class course

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Diploma in Educational Habilitation A Case
Study
- - - - Delay in project execution due to
training of tutors and learners (Computer
illiteracy) Learners lack of motivation which is
the driving force of self paced learning. Poor
voice quality due to the existing infrastructure
Deviation from SVU model E-content
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Diploma in Educational Habilitation A Case
Study
Computer internet skills for both learners
and tutors. Classes of 30 students from all over
the country Richer experience and interactivity
of learners Use of available resources i.e. Edu
Net Al-Basel Centers Expectations for 8000
learner next year
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Virtual Education?
Syrian Virtual University
SVU programs
Case Study
Challenges
29
Learning Process

• Five Components
• Students
• Teachers
• Content
• Interaction
• Assessment/Evaluation

• And the most important
• Motivation
• Mentality
• Environment

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Virtual University

• What about
• Law and virtuality
• Regulations and virtuality
• It Security
• Staff
• Infrastructure

• Knowledge Management System
• Content Management System
• Assessment management system
• Virtual Library
• Virtual Study Room

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Infrastructure

• SVU Main site with integrated telecenter
• 14 processing units for
• Mail proxy
• 2 File sharing
• 6 Delivery DB, LMS, AMS
• ISIS
• Web-demo (Virtual Classroom)
• Domain controller backups.
• 100 Work station
• L3 network
• Power Management
• Total Internet Bandwidth

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Infrastructure

• Bandwidth for Main site (outbound)

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Infrastructure

• Bandwidth for Main site (inbound)

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Infrastructure

• Bandwidth synchronous sessions downloads from
  Main site

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Infrastructure

• Bandwidth for Virtual Classroom from Main site

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Infrastructure

• Bandwidth for internet downloads from Main site

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Infrastructure

• HTTP traffic in SVU Main site in out

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Infrastructure

• Tele-Centers
• 13 telecenters spread over Syria
• Between 6 to 20 PC per center.
• 256 Kbps to 2MBs Internet connectivity.
• Aim for
• Exams
• Virtual classes
• Free access
• Total Bandwidth 8 Mbps
• Total No PCs 220
• Total Number of employees 35
• Annual cost .5 M USD

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Infrastructure

• Electrical Power
• ???

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Challenges

• Dependency on unstable/unavailable technology
• Around 5000 enrolled learners
• One of the most reputed Syrian site
• Need more active support
• Dilemma Biz of education versus HRD

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Do we really need technology
Can we keen on it
Thank You