UNIVERSAL Exchange for Pan-European Higher Education

Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

Commission of the European Communities

UNIVERSAL will demonstrate the feasibility of an open exchange system for course units between institutions of higher education. The system embraces offers, enquiries, booking and delivery. The aim is to develop a model and standards that could be translated into training for industry and government. The key innovation is a brokerage platform with a standard way of describing the pedagogical, administrative and technical characteristics of course units. The system will enable institutions to enrich their curricula with remotely sourced units. It will be compatible with a variety of business models pursued by different institutions, including open universities and alliances between peers. The catalogue and assessment mechanism will assist mutual recognition of course units delivered from other institutions. Students will benefit from a wider choice of course units and from virtual learner mobility based on mutual recognition.