TU Delft Online

Short Learning ProgrammesIr. Willem van ValkenburgManager Production & Delivery Extension School

w.f.vanvalkenburg@tudelft.nl@wfvanvalkenburgslideshare.net/wfvanvalkenburg

Agenda

1. Introduction

2. Policy and Strategy framework

3. Examples

4. Challenges

5. Solutions to the challenges

What is a Short Learning

Programme?• Target audience

• Duration (relative to full programmes?)

• Study load per week

• Certificate / Credits / recognition

Policy and Strategy Framework

TU Delft education vision (Aug’2017):• “We strive to offer a comprehensive portfolio of bachelor,

master, doctoral and professional courses and

programmes in the fields of science, design and

engineering that are internationally acknowledged as

world class.”

• “A variety of professional and post‐academic courses

and continuous education programmes for working

professionals, leading to professional certificates,

advanced science diplomas or advanced science

degrees.”

Open & Online Programme

• Target audience: professional learner

• First phase: focus on courses

• Second phase: focus on short programmes

“Group courses into short learning programmes to

guide the learner through a relevant learning path

to obtain a relevant certificate”

Portfolio Themes

Aerospace Engineering

Affordable & Clean Energy

Responsible Leadership of Technology

Data Analysis & Programming

Design & Architecture

Medical & Environmental Technologies

Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

Fundamental Science

Sustainable Cities

Examples of SLPs

• Professional Education Course Advanced Leadership

for Engineers

• Online Academic Course Introduction to Wind

Turbines

• Xserie on Business Model Innovation

• MicroMaster programme on Solar Energy

Engineering

• Professional Certificate Programme Data Analysis &

Visualisation with Excel

Challenges

• Focus in faculties is on initial learners, not

on the professional learners

• Diversity of business needs

• Pace of development of a new programme

Assignment

What are the challenges

you see with online SLPs

Challenges identified during discussion

1. Lack of expertise in online education

2. Additional workload for teachers

3. Accreditation will slow down

4. Mindset/culture

5. Clear business model

6. Diversity in offerings (e.q. level, size, certificate,

format)

7. Finding SLPs / how to market

8. Making the connection with the field

Solutions to the challenges (1)

1. Lack of expertise in online education

• Create course teams with different expertise

• Provide trainings for teachers

• Guide teachers through design process

2. Additional workload for teachers

• Extra money (free to spend by teacher)/research time/support

• Recognisation (awards, prizes)

3. Accreditation will slow down

• Trust in the institute and its QA processes (institutional

accreditation)

• No individual accreditation of SLPs

Solutions to the challenges (2)

4. Mindset / Culture

• Recognition for teachers

• Financial incentives

• Support of whole university (from Executive Board to teachers)

5. Clear Business Model

• Revenue direct to department

• Need seed money for the initial investment

6. Diversity in offerings

• Clear learning objectives and descriptions

• Clear number of hours, workload per week, number of weeks

• Customer review /company recommendation

• Free course or MOOC as a starter of SLP (self check for learners)

Solutions to the challenges (3)

7. Finding SLPs / How to market

• Use network of the course team to promote the SLPs

• European framework for SLPs

• Setup portal for SLPs

8. Making the connection with the field

• Use subject matter experts from companies

• Involve your alumni

• Connect with branch organisations

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