Bridges Project Summary

The emergency transition to online learning in the wake of Covid-19 was a phenomenon that forced Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to switch to remote teaching overnight. For one side, the Covid-19 educational emergency brought many opportunities for online learning, but at the same time highlighted many of the problems that already existed. Transitioning to online learning, especially when university curricula are planned for face-to-face (F2F) teaching and learning, requires careful planning and [re]design processes. In the spring semester, we experienced a first phase called Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) a term coined to describe the lack of planning, design, and student-centred approaches. However, it is worth noting that this situation has created opportunities for the adoption of digital pedagogy and the development of digital literacy: an absolute majority of academic faculty has already experimented with ERT. Nevertheless, in order to implement online learning, the academic faculty needs constant support and professional development opportunities to facilitate the transition from ERT to online learning.The main objective of the project is to support the transition from Emergency Remote Teaching to Digital Education through evidence-based, open and innovative practices of teaching and learning. Its ultimate goal is to improve the quality of education, regardless of the existing differences in the educational systems of European countries, thus providing equal opportunities for personal development for all European citizens.

Information on each of the IOs that make up the Bridges project can be found below.