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Mission and History
We are a modern e-Learning Academy, which has now developed into an International Academy, drawing its students from the whole globe.
The European Academy was formed in 1999 in Belgium, but we started using e-learning in 2003 when offering our Nutrition and Sports Nutrition courses to students of the Commonwealth Academy in London. When the European Academy was formed it also offered wine courses but due to its popularity that proved impractical and in 2004 the wine courses were taken over by its sister Academy, The European Wine Academy.
All our courses are offered essentially via e-Learning (distance learning),but where sufficient student numbers in a city or region justify it, our courses can also be followed via 'blended learning' (which is a combination of normal face-to-face (f2f) classes / practicums/ workshops/ tastings and e-learning) as well as normal, f2f short & long courses. We provide serious (in the sense of academically sound) education & training which:
- is based on a high, modern standard
- can give new learners, those persons wanting to start out on a new pathway of knowledge, and more advanced enthusiasts
- has internationally renowned lecturers, course advisers and visiting professors
- educates and trains aspiring Professionals
Please note though that there is a level for anyone, and that anyone may follow these courses, your reason for doing so is not as important to us as your desire to gain the knowledge!
Teaching method
All our courses have the same standard of excellence, they differ only in the method in which they are delivered and in the differing motivation of students: the student following our e-learning courses will do so for very specific reasons: highly motivated students who cannot, (usually because of their geographical location), follow a course in a regular class room environment because of their work schedules, family needs or other reasons. The academic level of our courses is that of a tertiary standard, about equal to that of a Polytechnicon/ Technicon/Academy, but not as high as university level - and then mostly only because we cannot cover the same amount of material as a full time bachelors course. The course contents are however often/mostly equal to that of a university academic level. We use the following systems:
However, our courses are not self-paced; depending on numbers students are placed into groups and follow a properly structured and managed program of receiving lectures regularly, weekly, and handing in assignments regularly, also on specific days. Courses that are entirely self-paced, i.e. with no structure, place an almost impossible burden of total self-discipline on students! Have a look at the following YouTube video’s (there are many more), to give you some idea (Please note: the situations discussed in these video clips are not exactly the same as ours!) of what e-learning (distance education, online education) is about:
“Electronic learning (or e-Learning or eLearning) is a type of Technology supported education/learning (TSL) where the medium of instruction is through computer technology, particularly involving digital technologies. E-learning has been defined as "pedagogy empowered by digital technology" [1]. In some instances, no face- to- face interaction takes place. E-learning is used interchangeably in a wide variety of contexts. In the United States, it is defined as a planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies, mainly Internet or computer-based, to reach learners. Lately in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programmes of study where the students rarely, if ever, attend face-to-face for on-campus access to educational facilities, because they study online.”
This type of program can provide adults with a chance at tertiary education and reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance, opportunity or physical disability.
Many distance education students have jobs, and/or families. They must therefore manage their time very carefully by co-ordinating the different areas of their lives which influence each other - their families, jobs, spare time, and studies. The essence of eLearning is that you can't always relocate or adjust your work and family schedules to advance your career or to improve your personal growth. ELearning or online courses empower you so that you achieve your goals at home, or even while travelling, without disrupting your current lifestyle.
But potential students should bear in mind that eLearning does not differ that much from learning in a classroom, as you still have a tutor, which guides you through the course and other glass members you can interact with. Most importantly, you still have assignments to complete, (which are obligatory) and you can participate in class activities. As the communication between yourself, the Academy, your tutor and other students all happen online you will have more responsibility for your own learning progress. Apart from some basic computer skills and a good Internet access, the skills required for success with eLearning are the same as those needed in a traditional classroom: preparation, organisation and self-discipline.
E-learning has evolved tremendously in the recent past , as Gráinne Conole and Karen Fill state: ”E-learning is now no longer a peripheral activity, the province of the isolated enthusiast, but is pervading Higher Education (HE), not just as an effective infrastructure for distance courses but blended with more traditional approaches on campus. Indeed, went as far as to term it a "new online paradigm [which] calls not so much for providing instruction at a distance, as for making available learning resources and instructional activities to students." In effect, the context is a potentially rich learning environment, where "students are typically engaged in multiple activities in pursuit of multiple learning goals, with the teacher serving the role of coach and facilitator."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMzg3QInhf0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKwLERpP78w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de6Au_lpRf8&NR=1 (part 2)
Who should take e-learning courses and how does it work?
If you like the idea of being in control of your own learning and have a real interest in the subjects you have selected, then yes. If you just see it as a way of getting out of going to regular face-to-face classes, then no. It's a very rewarding way to learn but you need to be well-organised and prepared to take responsibility for your own learning. You should be prepared to spend about 1to 2 hours per week on doing assignments. Our tutors realise that there may be times when you need a bit of extra encouragement and support. They are there to help you as much as they can.
Blended Learning
In addition we also offer our courses via blended learning, which is a combination of e-learning and normal, face-to-face classes. In other words the bulk of the course will be offered via e-learning and a smaller part will be offered via regular, face-to-face lectures/workshops or practicums. These learner-centred approaches put the learners back in command, with a wealth of learning resources at their fingertips, customized to their individual needs. Teachers and trainers, however, continue to play a central role, using virtual and traditional face-to-face interactions with their students in a 'blended' approach. E-learning (also known as Distance Education), is the main form of education, particularly for the longer courses.
What is e-learning (Distance Education) and what are its advantages?
Simply put, distance education, or e-learning, takes place when a tutor and his/her students are separated geographically from each other by physical distance, and by using technology (i.e. voice, video, data, and print), this instructional gap is bridged. Or put slightly differently: e-learning is an educational system that uses technology: print, audio, video and computers, to reach learners in dispersed locations. However, it is learner-centred in philosophy: that means that rather than simply bringing students piles of packaged information, we engage you in an active educational experience that enhances your professional and personal capacities. Wikipedia gives the following definition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWZ-por8-ow
Regular Courses
To a very limited extent, and only where at least 10/12 students register for a course will we offer regular, f2f (face-to-face) courses.
E-Learning Platform
- All our students’ course works (except for work shops and practicums (the practical work shops which form part of certain courses) are conducted via our secure, dedicated and interactive e-learning platform. Our e-learning platform is password double-encrypted and students have access to it 24/7. It uses the very latest, yet simple to use, technologies thus ensuring a dynamic learning environment. Students do not have to download any specific software; all that is required is an internet connection.
- Students receive their lectures from the platform; read the latest news and relevant articles, and up-load their assignments there as well.
- Because of the nature of e-learning start dates for courses are flexible, so you can start at any time.
- The lectures offered at the rate of 1 lecture per week, and each lecture contains certain compulsory assignments or quizzes, which are uploaded by the student via the eLearning platform.
- There is no average length for a lecture, this is determined by the contents, but you should allow yourself at least 1 to 2 hours per week for the compulsory assignments, which form part of every lecture.
- Courses are available in English, English is the main language of tuition, and is the administrative language for the Academy. As we develop our program new Courses will be introduced and this could mean that certain courses may be offered in multiple languages.
Tutors and Course Advisers
We use internationally-based tutors, course advisers and visiting professors, each one an expert in his/her field and in order to ensure that our courses remain at a high standard and remain up-to-date.
Accreditation and Memberships
We actively support and apply the principles of the EU’s Principles on E-learning. Our Academy was awarded the highly regarded international award of quality: “ISO 9001”, in October 2005, following a strenuous and lengthy investigation by the ISO’s auditors. In addition, because of our firm belief in providing our students with an education of appropriate academic standards backed up by well-qualified tutors and a well-run administration, the Academy, through its founder, has become a member of various educational institutions which lay down strict requirements for membership, thus ensuring that students receive a quality education.
If you study the contents of this web site you will notice that we have covered, and explained, far more aspects than those normally required of members of these institutions; this is because we wish our students to be completely informed before registration. You will note that we even allow a cooling off period; we point out the potential pitfalls which a student may encounter, and then suggest a possible solution as well.
The Academy has been appointed by the Flemish government as an official provider of adult education under a special law which provides educational subsidies to any Belgian taxpayer or person working in Belgium.
What will I need?
All you need to register for one of our courses is a PC with an internet connection, a webcam, word processor and free software to open PDFs, audio and video files. This usually comes standard but can also downloaded for free.
Why are our courses different?
What sets us apart from other educational institutions is:
- a higher academic standard in our course contents resulting in a better prepared, trained and employable student.
- flexibility and friendliness
- Additionally we have a few hundred video clips which can assist students, on all important topics
- we recognize that not all students are able to immediately pay all of their course fees, so we allow certain students to enter into a Fee Instalment Plan.
- once you have completed your course you will still receive, for a minimum of 12 months, regular academic updates via articles on the platform
- via our e-learning courses international students, who often cannot get access to such sophisticated courses, due to geographical reasons, can now also follow courses.
And Exams?
Most of our courses will require students to write a final exam, and currently we utilise the Proctor system to do so, simply and efficiently. A proctored exam is one that is overseen by an impartial individual (called a proctor) who lives near the student. The proctor monitors or supervises a student while he or she is taking an exam. The proctor ensures the security and integrity of the exam process. Such a proctor is actually selected by you, the student, and is a person who lives in your area who will act as the proctor and it is usually held in the office or home of the proctor.In the very near future tests and even exams will be conducted via the Platform.
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