Open World project with Austrian e-learning standard embraces over 600 Ukrainian schools
Kyiv, October 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Open World National Project, which employs Austrian experience in e-learning, is to start in more than 600 Ukrainian schools within the third term of the 2011-2012 school year, according to Ihor Kurus, the director of the state-run Open World National Project enterprise.
The entire project is designed for four years and will be implemented in all secondary schools in Ukraine, he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.
"We have carried out questionnaire surveys in schools for almost nine months... From the information gathered for the pilot [experimental] project, which [we] are to introduce from November 1, firstly [we] chose 900 schools, then 870, and now around 600 schools are left. The Open World project is planned to last four years only for secondary schools (from 5th to 9th classes) - higher schools have yet to be considered as of now," he said.
According to him, the estimated cost of the project is UAH 4.7 billion, of which UAH 1.2 billion is to be allocated from the national budget.
"We aren't at the zero stage, but [we are] at the starting [stage]. We can say there has been definite progress in using the e-base in Zaporizhia region (the online achievement and reporting system in schools) and the provision of schools with computers is going well in Crimea. Luhansk region has also seen some good results," Kurus said.
In turn, Director of JV Technology and Investment Consulting (Ticon) Volodymyr Matiushko said that the tasks and aim of the Open World project would give pupils the chance "to receive knowledge at any place and at any time with any access device."
As he reported, experimental investigations showed that decisions of Ukrainian specialists concerning e-learning resources had been correct. This means that quality e-learning content should be created by professional companies with the involvement of the best teachers from a variety of countries.
As Matiushko said, Austrian education pays special attention to Green IT technologies and technologies that have low environmental impact. Consequently, Ukrainian e-learning projects should be also based on the principles of energy efficiency, he said.
Trade Counselor at the Austrian Embassy in Ukraine Gregor Postl said he was pleased that Austria was setting a good example of interactive learning for other countries.
He also expressed satisfaction that the trade department of the Austrian Embassy had organized a trip by JV Technology and Investment Consulting (Ticon) to Austria to study e-learning.