The EOLES project in a few words

The EOLES project (Electronics and Optics e-learning for Embedded Systems) is a project dealing with the creation of an "e-Learning 2.0" English-taught 3rd year Bachelor degree with 30 to 40 students graduating each year.

In particular, this project aims at:

• creating a fully online degree in hard sciences (electronics and optics for embedded systems)
• opening a new English specialized curriculum
• developing an innovative remote laboratory allowing to perform online practical works
• training academic, administrative and technical staff in the partner countries institutions on e-learning, English language and remote laboratory development
• implementing a modern pedagogical approach (e-learning 2.0) through the creation of an educational social network
• extending access to e-learning or face-to-face Master for the EOLES graduated students
• reinforcing the cooperation between 11 North African and 4 European universities
• promoting the hard sciences and attracting new students

The created curriculum will be available for students living all over the world and especially in North Africa and having already the first two years of a Bachelor degree in Physics. This SPECIALISATION YEAR is oriented towards the EMBEDDED SYSTEMS domain, in great expansion nowadays. The curriculum program will allow graduated students to apply for postgraduate degrees.

This project will PROMOTE the teaching of HARD SCIENCES with new generation tools in order to create an "educational social network" able to efficiently fight against the loss of motivation and the dropping out of students isolated or in difficulties.

Students will work in collaboration to improve their theoretical and practical skills and their English language and then will contribute to increase the number of high qualified students in North Africa.

The international virtual learning environment daily used by students and teachers will include:

• synchronous tools (virtual classrooms)
• asynchronous tools (screencasting, forum,...)
• a remote laboratory with last generation equipment and instrumentations
• an application server giving access to professional software

International collaboration between the partners will improve the skills of the teaching staff, technical and administrative staffs for e-learning tools use, e-learning platform administration and English language.

EU partners, in cooperation with partners countries institutions, will also transfer expertise for the implementation of the remote laboratory contributing to reinforce their amount of equipment.

Structural impacts on the higher education system of North African countries are expected as the new curriculum is aimed to contribute to convince the authorities to give accreditation to joint diploma taught in English (rare in North African countries) fully made online.