Internationalisation of online courses, or the Virtual Exchange Credit Programme (VECP), is a way to make adding an international component to one's study plan easier for students. VECP is thus more inclusive for all students to take part in, and helps in widening their knowledge by gaining access to a larger course base. Also, teachers benefit from the input from students who study at another university. VECP offers a more international and intercultural learning environment, and acts as a practical addition to physical student mobility.
The process
VECP courses are all taught and assessed completely online, and the courses are chosen from the existing curriculum. The courses are added to the Unite! course catalogue, after which students from Unite! partner universities can apply to said courses. After a selection period, the students are given their study rights, orientation packages and then added to the course. Once the course is finished, the students transfer the credits to their home university study plans with the help of their local student services.
The pilot programmes
There are currently 3 VECP pilot programmes through which the courses are offered:
- Energy engineering, for master students in the field of energy
- Architectural engineering, for master students in the field of architecture and building technology
- Language and cultural competence courses, for all students
Examples of courses offered by Aalto professors in the past:
- Energy engineering: EEN-E3001 Fundamentals of Industrial Energy Engineering, PHYS-E0483 Advances in New Energy Technologies, PHYS-E6570 Solar Energy Engineering D, 31C01300: Energy and Environmental Economics
- Architectural engineering: ARK-E1023 Parametric Design, ARK-E1024 Algorithmic Design D
- Language and cultural competence courses: LC-0614 Developing Global Competence: Working in an International Virtual Team, LC-7003 Survival Finnish Online, LC-1322 Thesis Writing for Engineers (MSc)
How to get involved:
Do you have a course that is taught online or could be taught online? Contact your local Unite! VECP support at Aalto: Melina Nummi (melina.nummi@aalto.fi)
Important to note:
- Virtually attending students may require more guidance at the beginning of the course.
- It is important for the teacher to create opportunities for Aalto students to interact and collaborate with virtually attending Unite! students, especially if the course can also be attended physically.