Page 12 - DEGW Annual Review 2009/10

Higher education

Practical and cost effective solutions to transform

underused areas into social learning spaces

Initiated 10 years ago, the Bologna Process Secretary General for Universities asked DEGW

(BP) has brought about fundamental and to share its international experience in developing

dramatic reforms in its drive for a European the learning landscape to support individual

Higher Education Area (EHEA) which promotes learning needs. A new initiative was devised:

mobility, attractive to students and staff from Social Learning Spaces: A Way To Transform
i

s

Europe and beyond, and is internationally The University Environment To The New Model

study competitive. Of Teaching And Learning Within The European

groups Higher Education Area.

study Today, BP is delivering increasingly more innovative

groups team and cooperative cross border study programmes DEGW has conducted pilot studies on the

work

three universities of different size and

computer that are strengthening the EHEA position on the campuses of
global

type
stage and bringing new priorities for its
representing Spain’s higher education delivery

rooms

a

s

classrooms laboratories ‘The expertise and support stakeholders they collaborate in the broader at urban, regional and national levels – all had

o
f

context

awarded CIE status in 2009.
student­centred learning and teaching.

been

relax Interaction that DEGW has contributed Education Ministers in the 47 participating DEGW’s initial recommendations include the

team to the task of transforming countries have, in recent years, confirmed the regeneration of

existing buildings in three ways –

work underused space in our relevance the social dimension to the future the upgrade of existing interaction and

f

o

o

f
study Interaction universities into social spaces success BP and early this year, as Spain took collaboration areas such as computer rooms

Interaction team Spanish meet the Government declared a focus on the importance between buildings, and the identification of areas

s

i

t
groups for learning will enable the up Presidency of the European Union, its and cafes, the fitting out of the interstitial spaces

higher education

system
significant interaction happens already
where

o

t

place to support collaborative learning

of

work
Interaction services to requirements the European environments. including
reception halls and corridors and where

o
f

easy to create and support spaces for small
it is
students
Higher

Education Area

2009, Spain introduced its Campus of
In
group
activities, interactions and collaboration.

auditorium cafe classrooms quickly and consistently.’ International Excellence (CIE) programme, DEGW’s work is stimulating the interest of

360° approach to quality, including
advocating a
Sr. Marius Rubiralta
.

D

libraries Ministry Education: physical space. The initiative’s benchmarking university chancellors and the teams in charge
o
f

process highlighted the dominance of traditional of project entries for the CIE programme and has
Secretary General of

team classroom based learning and the need for a placed the use of campus space to support

work Universities, Government systematic approach to address the low level of student learning and international collaboration

team of Spain utilisation of firmly on Spain’s education agenda.

social spaces in Spain’s universities.
work
Rethinking existing To assist in plotting a way through such a massive

circulation space to focus

on interaction zones cultural change across the whole country, Spain’s

connecting key functions
20 21