Open and Distance Learning (ODL) 2025/26
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Open and Distance Learning (ODL) 2025/26
Launch:
01/01/2025 at 06:00Closing:
06/02/2025 at 05:59Time zone: Europe/Paris
1. Introduction & backgroundAs part of its 2021 - 2025 strategy,The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) promotes digital transformation and pedagogical innovation as levers for improving the employability of graduates and the accessibility and inclusiveness of training courses. The AUF also encourages partnership, cooperation, mobility and scientific development in higher education and research on an international scale, and through its Institut de la Francophonie IFIC implements an international catalog of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses delivered by AUF member institutions to a geographically dispersed public in the French-speaking scientific community. Thanks to the support of the AUF and its member institutions, these students can access quality training while remaining in their home countries. ODL is therefore a pedagogical and technical tool for offering international training in all countries where an AUF institution is available. To facilitate the creation and deployment of ODL, the AUF has set up a special framework for international cooperation with AUF member institutions, aimed at the internationalization of digital training. The AUF's support includes technical and pedagogical expertise, administrative and logistical support, and financial aid for AUF member institutions wishing to develop ODL courses. To this end, IFIC is launching a call for projects to identify existing or new degree courses delivered entirely by distance learning using digital education by AUF member institutions wishing to join the AUF's international ODL catalog from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. These courses will be supported by the AUF and promoted through its network in the Francophonie scientific area. 2. ObjectivesInternationalize university degree courses, making them accessible to a public geographically dispersed around the world.Support and accompany digital transformation initiatives leading to the creation of high-quality French-language degree courses with high employability potential, delivered entirely by distance learning.Strengthen synergy and active solidarity between AUF member institutions through joint courses.3. Projects supportedThree categories of projects are concerned:New training courses.Existing training courses requiring transformation into digital distance training courses.Existing training courses as digital distance training courses.These training courses, which will be included in the AUF's international ODL catalog, must lead to a recognized diploma identical to that awarded for equivalent face-to-face training (if this exists).4. Conditions of eligibilityThe institution carrying out the project must be a member of the AUF. Institutions benefiting from the AUF's services must be up to date with their membership fees.The institution carrying the project may apply alone or as part of a consortium. The consortium can include academic institutions and socio-economic partners. The project coordinator must be a lecturer permanently attached to the institution carrying out the project.the project must be supported by the Highest Authority (PHA) of the institution carrying out the project and, in the case of a consortium, by the PHAs of all the institutions making up the consortium. the training must be diploma-granting, accredited and delivered entirely by distance learning. The training course must be accredited, degree-granting and delivered entirely by distance learning. Accreditation of the training course is taken to mean authorization to open the course granted by the competent authority, taking into account the legal and regulatory framework of the country in which the establishment delivering the course is located. Exceptionally, if the course is in the process of being accredited, please indicate the timetable for obtaining accreditation. 5. Forms of AUF supportAUF support may take several forms, not mutually exclusive. It may include:5.1. Preparing the training course for inclusion in the AUFL's international ODL catalog The following support may be granted for the digital transformation of the training course: * Financial support: Acquisition of equipment and materials for strictly techno-pedagogical use (not to exceed 50% of the amount of financial support requested from the AUF).Acquisition of software and online services for techno-pedagogical use.Production and/or acquisition of digital teaching resources.Mobilization of expertise in digital pedagogical engineering. Techno-pedagogical support: Techno-pedagogical support and assistance during the training preparation phase (digital transformation of training, etc.).Support for the development of a Moodle-type pedagogical platform.The amount of financial support may vary according to training category and needs. As an indication, in the context of the 2024/2025 Open and Distance Learning call for projects launched in 2023, the amounts of financial support granted for the training preparation phase varied between 3,000 and 5,000 euros where applicable. 5.2. Deployment phase of the course within the AUF's ODL system he integration of the course into the AUF's ODL system implies the following:Student enrolment through the AUF's application platform.The setting of a single annual course enrolment fee for students enrolled through the AUF.Payment by the selected students of the course enrolment fee in local currency through the AUF's offices, with some exceptions. In addition, the integration of a training program into the AUF's FOAD system enables students to benefit from a pre-established number of AUF international virtual mobility allowances in the form of partial or total coverage of registration fees, intended for deserving students with limited resources who are unable to bear the full cost of registration. In addition, the following support is possible:* Communication:Promotion of training courses and dissemination of the call for applications through AUF networks.* Administrative support:Assistance in preparing training course pedagogical sheets and integrating them into the AUF international catalog of degree courses. Accompaniment and assistance for the appropriation of the ODL process throughout the deployment of the training.Access to the AUF's integrated training management platform (management of applications, selection of students by institutions, notification of candidates...).Organization of exams and examinations at AUF sites (premises, supervision, digitization and dispatch of copies, access to the exam management platform...). Provision of premises and equipment at AUF sites (organization of virtual and/or face-to-face meetings, on-site student access to teaching resources, etc.). Payment through the AUF of training tutors on behalf of the institution, on an exceptional basis, on the written indication of an authorizing officer of the institution's expenditure. These sums are deducted from the outpayment amounts and concern tutors residing in a French-speaking country (outside Western Europe and North America). Mail management: forwarding of registration files submitted to the AUF offices to the institution offering the course, forwarding of certificates of attendance and completion, transcripts and diplomas to students in the various countries via the AUF offices. * Technical pedagogical support: Technical pedagogical support and assistance during course delivery, provision and management of a Moodle-type pedagogical platform, reinforcement of digital pedagogical skills (training of trainers, etc.) * Authentication on the Blockchain: Authentication of diplomas, certificates of achievement, etc. on the Blockchain (more details: https://ific.auf.org/certification).Some of these services may entail the payment of additional fees.6. Application fileThe application file consists of the following documents:Letter(s) of commitment from the institution carrying the project and, in the case of a consortium, from all its members, signed by the respective Highest Authority(ies) (HA(ies)), stating the title of the proposed training course, the identity of the project coordinator and the reasons why the institution(s) is (are) responding to this call. The application form, duly completed (use the template provided). Proof of accreditation of the training program or, failing that, a timetable for accreditation of the program if it is in progress. The curriculum vitae of the project's coordinating teacher.The list of project team members (use the template provided).The pedagogical and organizational details of the training program (pedagogical model, etc.).The project's provisional timetable (detailed action plan, Gantt chart, etc.).The project's detailed provisional budget, specifying the contributions of the project leader, the various partners where applicable, and the budget requested from the AUF (use the template provided).7. Selection criteriaApplications meeting the eligibility criteria are submitted to IFIC's Scientific and Pedagogical Board for assessment. The main assessment criteria are:Relevance to the objectives of the call for projects.Quality and feasibility of the project.Training sustainability strategy.Appropriateness of the project's business model.Innovative and original training program.Quality of the academic and socio-economic partners involved in the training program. The quality of the academic and socio-economic partners involved in the training program.The effective involvement of establishments from southern countries as part of the consortium.The professional purpose of the training program.The qualifications of the project team members.The quality assurance system in place for the training program.The inclusion of the training program in an initiative to pool teaching resources.The added value for the French-speaking scientific community.The coherence of the timetable and budget presented.8. AUF Privacy PolicyPersonal data collected via registration forms in AUF services are for the exclusive use of the AUF. This information is used to enable you to access these services and only for this purpose. The AUF undertakes not to pass on the data collected to third parties. Under no circumstances may this data be abused or used in any way that could harm the privacy or reputation of the persons concerned. In accordance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to access, modify and object to your personal data stored on the call for projects platform.In accordance with the GDPR, participants in the call agree to the use by the AUF of their personal data, exclusively in the context of this call for projects. The AUF undertakes to guarantee the confidentiality of proposals sent to it, and to ensure the secure storage of proposals.9. Call timetableSubmission start date: February 05, 2024Submission deadline: April 04, 2024 at 11:59 pm Tunis time (UTC+1)Provisional date for notification of results: May 27, 2024Training start date: September/October 2025 or January/February 2026Submission of applications is via the call for projects platform: https://appelsprojets. auf.orgFor further information, please contact: appel-foad@auf.org Please note:Incomplete applications will not be considered.Documents must be submitted in French.A school may submit several projects. Each project must be submitted separately.