Thematic Workshop European Area
“Excellence Models For a Global University Network”

The GUIDE Association Thematic Workshop European Area, represents a first concrete answer to the expectations of more than 100 educational  Institutions from 50 Countries worldwide, now present in GUIDE.
The European institutions which have chosen to join GUIDE Association confirm today, with their presence in this Workshop, the need to define common objectives for the development of a collaborative approach to research and education and for the improvement of a trans-national cooperation system.

The creation of this educational research network, based on collaborative learning principles, can improve and intensify the multicultural dialogue among different geographical regions/areas with the aim to contribute in the diffusion of a global and ethical vision of the knowledge transmission.  

This Workshop is the first of a series of meetings conceived to encourage and to support a continuous professional interaction between the member Institutions, in order to create a common background which can facilitate a careful analysis of the different experiences in the adoption of flexible learning and teaching models based on different methodological approach to research and education.

This process can favour the comparability of the different  methodologies  adopted  in the design of both research and educational programmes and  can give a sort of reference index to enlarge our activities at a global level.

From this point of view the “area” sessions can represent an important moment to highlight the emerging problems linked to the transformation of the traditional education systems in specific geographic area and to the adoption of both innovative didactic methodologies and technological tools. 
To achieve these results the Association is engaged in the reinforcement  of the already existing international cooperation by promoting and sharing in a continuous way the expertise and experiences in the field of new information and communication technologies.
One tool in this direction is the Guide scientific magazine "Formamente" that, in its issue now in distribution, testifies a real interest of our member Institutions to participate in an open-minded debate at a high scientific level.
In this framework the area sessions, the thematic workshops, the discussion forum and all the activities promoted through the GUIDE website, enable a permanent communication system between the joining universities which are supported in the creation of sharing networks and linked development projects according with the main objective of the new European and international programs.
Further  suggestions can be proposed during this meeting from everyone to improve our capability to circulate the new ideas and experiences. 

The basic theme of the “area” sessions, which will involve in the next months the African, Middle and Far East and American institutions, will be further discussed on the Plenary Sessions, important moments for the Institutions Representatives to define common intervention fields in order to carry out “good practice” and “quality standard” in view of a Quality Assessment and Certification of trans-national education.

The Workshop, is structured in four parallel sessions, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The daily discussion will be focused on the analysis of innovative didactic methodologies for the design of cooperative virtual learning environments and on the research studies conducted on  the learning objects interoperability, the development of  multidisciplinary and multimedia contents and the establishment of quality standards for e-learning products.

During the Round Table Session, which will be held at the end of the conference programme, we will indicate also a Representative of the Area Members, who will act as coordinator for the activities related to its geographic area, in cooperation with the Operative Office of the GUIDE Association in Roma.

This operative link can help all of us to establish, in a co-operative attitude, a better communication network and to decentralize part of the Association activities.

Good work to all of you and good luck to the GUIDE Association.


Prof. Giovanni Briganti

Head of International Relations Office

Università Telematica “Guglielmo Marconi”