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An important goal set by the Bologna declaration is to promote European co-operation in higher education with regard to inter-institutionally integrated programmes of study, training and research.
The interactive and integrative approach of iCamp aims to foster the inter-institutional co-operations and supports the university staff in working closer on new challenges across their institutes, countries, cultures and disciplines. The infrastructure that is created by iCamp offers a medium and support structure for realizing integrated programmes of study, training and research as envisioned by the Bologna Process.
Cultural diversity is one of the main strengths in the European Union and as such it has gained special attention in the recently published i2010 goals. This highly relevant strategy paper stresses the cultural heterogeneity of Europe as a main advantage. This has been reflected in the iCamp setting, which will build its models and tools with a specific focus on supporting collaboration and social networking across the borders.
iCamp is settled in a digital, mediated and networked environment. ICT is used for self-directed and self-organised learning, for connecting people and establishing social ties, and for collaboration. Various European policies, such as i2010, stress the importance of media usage and the gain of competence in these areas for the economic and social advancement of Europe.
Supporting self-directed and self-organised learning is closely related to the demand of the information society to participate in a process of life-long learning. Today’s and future knowledge workers have to cope with the fast change of knowledge and thus be prepared to react fast and manage their further education and training at the workplace. In addition, they have to take responsibility for their own employability.
In this context, higher education has an important role to play. We assume that it will be easier for working citizens to react and take responsibility of personal learning if they are already prepared and provided scaffolds for this challenge during their universities enrolment. Competencies in the area of self-direction and self-organisation are an important pre-requisite for successful participation in life-long learning and competence development in information society.
Regarding the challenges of the information society and life-long learning, a growing debate over the importance of social capital has started. Researchers, educators and policy makers are drawing the attention to the influence that social ties may have on the learning experience. With the latest developments (e.g. Social Software) the creation and maintaining of social networks are facilitated from a technical perspective. In iCamp we want to advance the competence in social networking and to contribute to social capital building for life-long learning and knowledge sharing across Europe.
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