Despite its catastrophic consequences in the world, COVID -19 has left a positive impact on the educational system contributing to new and progressive developments. Particularly, almost non-existent or fragmented and non-coordinated distance education in the Armenian higher education system has become a necessity.
Giving importance to distance education, Eurasia International University has been implementing distance learning via various online platforms (MOODLE, i-test) for teaching and learning since 2009. COVID-19 created some conditions for rethinking the existing practice of distance learning and also ensure online teaching opportunities and platforms at Eurasia International University. The staff quickly got acquainted to all available resources in a short period of time, making them available for online teaching as well. Emphasizing the importance of continuity of education, the university was able to move its work to an online platform within a short period of time. Before the start of the process, all the lecturers of the university were trained and today the faculties of the university continue their educational activities online, without disruption from the approved teaching programs, curriculum and schedules. All the classes are recorded for absent students.
Eurasia International University was among the first to move the teaching process to the online platform and summarizing the experience of the last weeks we can note that it’s been a truly unique start for both students and faculty towards the challenges of the time. The teaching staff has prepared number of distance learning courses (video lessons with necessary content), through which the university aims to completely transform and improve the quality of distance education.
Up to now, the university’s experience has been more in the field of distance learning, and the implementation of online courses has been largely the result of movement restrictions during the epidemic situation. According to the decision of the methodological council of the university, however, online courses will henceforth be an integral part of the educational process. Students from the regions will have the opportunity to enter the classes from home, employers will conduct master classes without being away from their work etc..
Despite the current situation in the country due to COVID 19, the EIU faculty and the Rectorate continue to study and adapt current innovationsin field of distant and online education.
Acknowledging the situation in the country, Eurasia International University makes more than 40 online courses available free of charge to support vocational institutions, students in
the regions, and people with disabilities who are unable to attend online courses. The University is ready to share the experience of planning and implementing online and distance courses, meantime providing free courses as a first step. The list of online courses is available on our website in detail https://bit.ly/3e89mow .