Anniversary of 20 years of distance learning

Politehnica University of Timisoara happily celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the ID / IFR and e-Learning Center - CeL, (initial name Regional Center for Distance Learning Studies - CSID) which took place between October 5-6, 2018 On this occasion, a series of events were organized.

The first part was dedicated to scientific research in the field of educational technologies by holding on October 5, 2018 the International Conference on eLearning in Central and Eastern Europe (International Conference on eLearning in Central and Eastern Europe 2018) and the Workshop Virtual Mobility and Advanced Educational Technologies (Virtual Mobility Service and Advanced Learning Technologies) part of the Open Virtual Mobility project, held in the Auditorium of the UPT Conference Center. Participants had interactive presentations and exercises on the Open Virtual Mobility project which aims to promote and increase the capacity of higher education in Europe by achieving, assessing and recognizing the virtual mobility skills of higher education educators and students in accordance with the principles from Bologna and with those of Open Education / Open Data. During the ICeL-CEE conference there were a series of extremely interesting presentations by specialists from Romania or abroad. Dr. Diana Andone, UPT spoke about Open and Distance Education in Timisoara. Dr. Andras Szucs, Secretary General of EDEN (European Distance and E-Learning Network) spoke about the organization he represents and its impact. Dr Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl of Dublin City University, Ireland presented The Incorporation of MOOCs and OERs, a case study of Irish 101: Introduction to Irish Language and Culture. Prof. Antonella Poce, from the Department of Education, University of Rome, Italy, presented the CriThinkEDU Project, the definition of the term "critical" in the 21st century. Prof. Dr. Ilona Buchem, Professor of Communication and Media Sciences, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, Germany spoke about Open Badges and Open Virtual Mobility. Mark Frydenberg from Bentley University, USA, together with Dr. Diana Andone, UPT presented the results of the Talk Tech project at 10 years old. Prof. Dr. Bogdan Orza, from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca spoke about Online Learning in UTCN. Prof.dr.ing. Carmen Holotescu, from Ioan Slavici University of Timişoara together with Prof. Gabriela Grosseck from UVT presented Strategies for opening education in European universities. Prof. Dr. Maria Kocsis Baan, from the Hungarian e-University Network, presented the organization she represents and the projects carried out together with UPT. Prof. Dr. Radu Vasiu, President of the UPT Senate spoke about the Internet of Things ProtoLabs and Arena. Dr. Eng. Andrei Ternauciuc from UPT presented the Virtual Learning Hub for virtual mobility (OpenVM hub). Dr.Ing. Vlad Mihăescu from UPT spoke about MOCCs in Higher Education (UPT Case Study). Dr. Eng. Silviu Vert from UPT ended the conference with a presentation on Augmented / Open Virtual Reality.

The second part of the anniversary events on October 8 were dedicated to the CeL @ 20 Anniversary Ceremony, also in the Auditorium hall within the UPT Conference Center. The director of the center, Dr. Diana Andone presented the history, activity and projects carried out over time by the CeL team. Those present had the pleasure of listening to a series of speeches full of emotion and appreciation for the activity of CeL. Thus, Prof. Dr. Eng. Nicolae Robu, the mayor of Timișoara and the first director of the ID / IFR and eLearning center, Prof.Dr.Ing. Viorel-Aurel Șerban, rector of UPT, Prof. Dr. Eng. Alexandru Nichici, rector of UPT between 1992-1996, Prof.dr.eng. Radu Vasiu, creator of distance education in UPT, Prof.Dr.Ing. Florin Dragan, vice-rector of UPT, Prof. Dr. Eng. Vasile-Stoicu Tivadar, former director of CeL, Prof.Dr.Ing. Lăcrămioara Stoicu-Tivadar, from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, Prof.Dr.Ing. Florin Alexa, dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, Prof.Dr.Ing. Inocențiu Maniu, dean of the Faculty of Mechanics, Prof.Dr. Daniel Dejica-Carțiș, dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences and other local, national and international partners. Distinctions of appreciation were also awarded to collaborators from the country and from abroad. The event ended on a positive note for the future to the events CeL @ 25 and CeL @ 30 where those present have already announced their participation.

The second part of the anniversary events on October 8 were dedicated to the CeL @ 20 Anniversary Ceremony, also in the Auditorium hall within the UPT Conference Center. The director of the center, Dr. Diana Andone presented the history, activity and projects carried out over time by the CeL team. Those present had the pleasure of listening to a series of speeches full of emotion and appreciation for the activity of CeL. Thus, Prof. Dr. Eng. Nicolae Robu, the mayor of Timișoara and the first director of the ID / IFR and eLearning center, Prof.Dr.Ing. Viorel-Aurel Șerban, rector of UPT, Prof. Dr. Eng. Alexandru Nichici, rector of UPT between 1992-1996, Prof.dr.eng. Radu Vasiu, creator of distance education in UPT, Prof.Dr.Ing. Florin Dragan, vice-rector of UPT, Prof. Dr. Eng. Vasile-Stoicu Tivadar, former director of CeL, Prof.Dr.Ing. Lăcrămioara Stoicu-Tivadar, from the Faculty of Automation and Computers, Prof.Dr.Ing. Florin Alexa, dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies, Prof.Dr.Ing. Inocențiu Maniu, dean of the Faculty of Mechanics, Prof.Dr. Daniel Dejica-Carțiș, dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences and other local, national and international partners. Distinctions of appreciation were also awarded to collaborators from the country and from abroad. The event ended on a positive note for the future to the events CeL @ 25 and CeL @ 30 where those present have already announced their participation.