E-Learning Overview
Tunisia has significantly closed the gender gap in education and built strong legal rights and privileges for women (World Bank report, June 3 2004). Additionally and according to Tunisian national sources, Tunisia has reached a 99.1% enrollment rate for elementary level children. This massification of elementary and high school level education in Tunisia has led to a steady increase in the number of students seeking higher education and is currently causing a great deal of strain on the higher education system. The number of college students in the system is currently 300,000 and is expected to reach 500,000 by the year 2010. Therefore, one of the highest concerns of the Tunisian higher education system presently is increased access through the use of information and communication technology and distance learning.
In January 2002, Tunisia established the Virtual University of Tunis (UVT). Through the use of state-of-the-art multimedia and digital technology, and in collaboration with all Tunisian universities, the UVT aims to (1) solve the challenge of the steady growth of students in higher education by progressively applying distance education in priority disciplines to cover 20% of the curriculum by 2010 and (2) foster a continuing learning environment with the vision of promoting equal opportunities in higher education to all qualified people, including non-traditional students.
During the early phases of the UGA Tunisia Educational partnership (founded in 2002), and through research, needs assessment, and consultation with Tunisian Higher Education Officials and the UVT, Professor Hamrita created a vision that would allow and guide the UGA Tunisia Educational Partnership to contribute to e-learning capacity building in Tunisia. This vision has led to the Tunisian government officially charging the UGA Tunisia Educational Partnership with the mission of assisting Tunisia with its 20% on the web goal.
The Partnership Program has been carrying out this mission through simultaneous and intense collaborations with the UVT and other Tunisian universities, several Tunisian higher education officials and UGA leaders, multiple UGA units, as well as the Georgia Board of Regents' Office of Advanced Learning Technologies. Designed to ensure local capacity building and local sustainabilty, the program has helped with shaping the vision of e-learning in Tunisia and created a national network of committed and highly trained individuals who are making e-learning in Tunisia a sustainable reality.
The Program has been contributing a number of new degrees, courses, and modules serving thousands of students in Tunisia. But more importantly, it has contributed to to the creation of a Tunisian National Scientific Association for e-learning by our Program alumni l'APREV. This Association is the first of its kind in Tunisia and it will play a key role in ensuring further dissemination of the expertise gained through our Program.