[edu-eu] Varna Free University from Bulgaria joins the FTA

[Franco Iacomella]

Permanent link: http://ftacademy.org/announce/vfu


*** Varna Free University from Bulgaria joins the FTA ***

The FTA Network is maturing. Today the Varna Free University from
Bulgaria has joined the Free Technology Academy as Associate Partner.
The VFU will start providing FTA courses in Bulgarian and furthermore is
planning to set up its own master programme in collaboration with FTA
partners.

From its inception, the Free Technology Academy was envisioned as a
sustainable effort that would continue after the lifetime of the
project. Three of the four FTA Consortium Partners have decided to
continue in the FTA Board, while the fourth (UiA) continues as an
Associate Partner. The FTA Associate Partner Network is steadily
growing, providing a very valuable channel to disseminate information
about the FTA and reach new targets, both at the institutional and the
individual level.

The FTA offers a unique opportunity for all Consortium and Associate
Network partners to lead the inclusion of Free Software and Open
Standards in the European Higher Education Area through the use of
state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies for distance learning.
University partners reinforce each other with shared expertise and best
practices on distance learning and improve the mobility of their
students. At the same time, they attract FTA students to their own
official degrees thanks to the recognition of FTA certifications.

In this light, the FTA is happy to announce the incorporation of the
Varna Free University (VFU) in Bulgaria in the Network. VFU is currently
translating several course books from the FTA into Bulgarian and will
start the courses at their local premises. The university is working to
set up a full master programme in Free Technology and the collaboration
in the network of international partners results very beneficial: some
FTA partners [1] such as UOC and URJC are already running their master
programmes on these topics, which enables VFU to stand on the shoulders
of giants and make a quick start with their activities.

In this light, the FTA is happy to announce the incorporation of the
Varna Free University (VFU) in Bulgaria in the Network. VFU is currently
translating several course books from the FTA into Bulgarian and will
start the courses at their local premises. The university is working to
set up a full master programme in Free Technology and the collaboration
in the network of international partners results very beneficial: some
FTA partners such as UOC and URJC are already running their master
programmes on these topics, which enables VFU to stand on the shoulders
of giants and make a quick start with their activities.

Prof. Teodora Bakardjieva, director of the VFU's Technological Institute
about joining the FTA:

    "Signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Free Technology
Academy is of great importance for Varna Free University. This step
creates possibilities for promoting and realising the use of free
software within the educational sector in Bulgaria. VFU aims to develop
learning activities, tests and exams related to FTA courses and share
these with the FTA using the FTA online campus infrastructure."

Wouter Tebbens, director of the Free Technology Academy, says:

    "The joining of the VFU clearly shows the benefits of software
freedom applied to course development: as all FTA course books are
published under free licenses, a university like VFU doesn't need any
permission to use or translate them. At the same time it also shows the
benefit of collaboration in an international network: VFU joins the
network to coordinate certain activities and will contribute with the
development of new materials back to the commons organised around a
shared master curriculum on Free Technologies. All contribute small
bits, and together we can enjoy from a rich and expanding programme."

The VFU is also planning to work on the co-development of certain new
course modules. More information about the Free Technology Master
Curriculum can be found at the FKI [2] and the FTA Campus Wiki [3].

[1] http://ftacademy.org/about/partners
[2] http://freeknowledge.eu/FTM
[3] http://campus.ftacademy.org/wiki/index.php/Master-Curriculum

*** About the Free Technology Academy ***

The Free Technology Academy (FTA) is a joint initiative from several
educational institutions in various countries. It aims to contribute to
a society that permits all users to study, participate and build upon
existing knowledge without restrictions. The FTA offers an online master
level programme with course modules about Free Technologies. These
courses are taught completely online in a virtual campus based on the
Campus Project interoperability framework.

The FTA is a collaboration between the Free Knowledge Institute and
three European universities: the Open University of Catalonia (Spain),
the Open University of the Netherlands and the University of Agder
(Norway). The Associate Partner Network adds to the founding base with a
network of organisations that share a common interest in offering
courses in the area of Free Technology.

    * More information: http://www.ftacademy.org
    * Contact information: contact[AT]ftacademy.org
    * About the FTA Associate Network:
http://ftacademy.org/about/associate-network
    * FTA Study Programme 2011: http://ftacademy.org/courses/programme/2011
    * FTA Community Portal: http://campus.ftacademy.org/community/

*** About the Varna Free University, Bulgaria ***

Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar” was established in 1991.
With a resolution of the 37th National Assembly from 21 July 1995 the
University was given the status of a higher educational institution. VFU
counts with approximately 12000 students, approximately 700 teachers and
300 employees. The Faculty of International Economics and Administration
includes, beside economics and administration studies, also education in
informatics. The department of Informatics provides bachelor and master
degrees. The Major Curriculum covers knowledge in data structures,
object-oriented programming, languages used in Web technologies,
operating systems, computer networks administration, network
programming, Internet communications security, wireless and information
technologies for mobile phones etcetera.

    * More information: http://www.vfu.bg/
    * The VFU's Technological Institute:
http://www.vfu.bg/en/index.php/structure/technologicalinstitute

--
Franco Iacomella