Evaluation of the Swiss Virtual Campus - Schweizerische ...

account the goal stated in the multiyear planning of Swiss universities of the Rectorʼs
Conference (CRUS) to have at least 10% of the courses supported by new educational
technologies. Moreover, since it was foreseeable that the federal programme would come to an
end (possibly with a third phasing-out period), a general goal of the consolidation programme
was that the HEI themselves assume the responsibility in the development of elearning.
This was translated in the goal of developing an elearning competence centre (CCSP) in each
Swiss HEI. These centres should consist of professional teams with the technological and
pedagogical competences needed to develop elearning courses, with two main benefits:
ensuring long-term accumulation of competences and experiences, also beyond the end of the
individual projects, as well as a reduction of the development costs through scale effects and
transfer of experiences from project to project. Moreover, these centres should permit better
integration of the SVC projects in the overall university strategy. Additional funding was also
provided to already existing projects to help their maintenance and integration in the
participating universities.
Finally, two calls for proposals for new projects were launched in 2004 and 2005. While the
general principles were the same as in the impulse phase, the blended learning approach was
officially endorsed in the call, while the CCSP of the leading house was charged with the
production of the elearning modules in collaboration with the project leader.
3. What has been achieved?
The evaluators are pleased to confirm that in their view, the SVC has been successful in
introducing elearning into the Swiss higher education system. Its size and funding scale have
inevitably attracted attention and raised the profile of elearning. The insistence on multiple
partnerships resulted in widespread coverage and all institutions having a least some part in the
scheme. Compared with similar initiatives (see section 6), the SVC has been highly successful
and has avoided many of the pitfalls which other schemes have not. This is a major
achievement in itself, as other schemes have been criticized for wasting public money. The
evaluators have concluded that the SVC was a good use of public money – even a necessary
use, given developments in elearning elsewhere.
The panel noted that some projects had produced very good elearning products, had won
awards and were continuing to be used. Nevertheless, others have been at a fairly basic level –
access to a virtual learning platform by all students and teachers putting powerpoint slides on
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