FernUniversität in Hagen

FernUniversität in Hagen (FeU) is the only state-funded distance learning university in the German- speaking language community that offers quality-assured, supervised distance teaching and learning with up-to-date Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, doctoral studies, as well as numerous certificates and Open Access studies. Established in 1974 as a university of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it is today Germany’s largest university in terms of student numbers, offering German-language study programs and flexible study options that can be adapted to the life situations of its diverse student body. FeU offers programs in the academic fields of its five faculties Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration, Psychology as well as Law. Currently, approximately 77,000 students are enrolled (winter 2019). Its central interdisciplinary research foci are “Digitalization, Diversity, and Lifelong Learning” and “Energy – Sustainability - Environment.”

FeU is committed to the diversity of its student body and equal opportunity in education. The multimedia teaching concept developed by FernUniversität in Hagen is based on the Blended Learning method. It combines printed study materials with multimedia-based and Internet-assisted forms of teaching and learning as well as optional face-to-face seminars. In addition, social software connects lecturers and students with each other, accelerates communication, and generates new forms of collaboration.

FernUniversität in Hagen compiles the blueprint for stakeholders (work package 3). The blueprint provides guidelines for various stakeholders (higher education institutions, governments, political representatives on national and European level) for implementing short learning programs. It is based on two internal surveys in the consortium and focuses on the current institutional framework in Europe for short learning programs.

FernUniversität is also a partner in the E-SLP pilot “Digitally Competent Educators.”