ÅBO AKADEMI
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MAIN AREAS OF ACTIVITY:
The Centre for Continuing Education, Åbo Akademi University (hereafter called the Centre) in Turku, is an independent institute at Åbo Akademi University, providing training and education services for students as well as organizations outside the University. In the activities the Centre aims at multidisciplinary, problem-based and relevant approach. The activity is largely based on the academic expertise existing within the university's area of research and education. In February 1998, the Centre received a quality award by the Ministry of Education in Finland for high standard, creativity and good self-evaluation in adult education.
EXPERTISE:
The Centre has traditionally been involved in international co-operation projects. One of the main goals is to arrange courses in foreign languages and to encourage both students and lecturers to participate in the activities. One third of the turnover (economically and activity-wise) is connected to international activities. The Centre has co-ordinated one Employment/Now-project, one Employment/Youthstart-project and two Alfa-projects. The Centre also participates as partner in more than twenty EU projects (Socrates, Leonardo, Tempus/Tacis, Phare/Tacis, Raphael, Interreg, Alfa and several projects linked to the ESF). Since 1991 the Centre participates in the Baltic University Programme, a network of 160 universities in the Baltic Sea Region. The Centre also is a national node for this network. With regard to Distance Education Developments, the Centre is at present co-ordinating most of the learning activities carried out within the University, which also a founding member of the Finnish National Virtual University that started its activity in year 2000. The Centre has participated in the EU-financed projects HUMANITIES and VirtUE, and in the Baltic Sea regional activities (satTV, audio-and videoconferences, Internet) of the Baltic University Programme. Current projects are i.e. Socrates SEUSSIS, THE NUCE, and BENVIC.
SPECIFIC TASKS WITHIN "SPOT PLUS":
Åbo Akademi will have a role in the following activities: support in the development of students' needs analysis; animation of and participation in the communication platform; testing within the pilot site of the developed training modules; contribution in the dissemination activities; contribution to the monitoring and evaluation activities; contribution to the Project Management activities.
