Over 400 students have chosen the distance learning mode at Varna Free University
Over 400 students have chosen the distance learning mode at Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”, with 50 of them being foreign learners. This was announced at a press conference where the results of the project BG051PO001-4.3.04-0012 „New Technologies for Developing Electronic Forms and Distance Learning“ were released. The project is realized under the Operational Program "Human Resources Development" and amounts to BGN 628 000. Its implementation has made possible the modernization of the university’s distance learning system and the expansion of the electronic forms of learning at the higher education school.
The two-year long project has been realized under priority axis “Improving the quality of education and training to meet labour market demands and to create a knowledge-based economy”. Participants include 900 students from various programmes, lecturers, administrative and technical staff. The project has allowed the implementation of modern standards for distance learning and the upgrading of the university’s distance learning platforms. This has helped to attract more young people, who wish to take advantage of the implementation of modern technologies in the academic environment. The project has proved that the interaction between traditional and distance learning forms is the right way to development, and the flexible models it offers attract students not only form Bulgaria but also from abroad.
Another significant outcome is the implementation of a professional video conference link, whose quality was demonstrated before the journalists at the press conference. It enables scholars and experts from all corners of the world to take part in the master classes at Varna Free University, via virtual sessions. 40 e-textbooks have been designed as part of the project activities, and a digital repository for electronic and learning resources has been built up. As a result of the project activities, distance learning bachelor and master programmes at Varna Free University have received accreditation.
“We have delayed the start of the distance learning mode for a long time, not because of its nature, but because of the many attempts to give it a go before proper preparation has taken place”, admitted the project leader Prof. Anna Nedyalkova, D Sc, President of the university.
