As already recognised by an OECD report released in 2020, due to the Covid-19 health emergency, HEIs had to reinvent their activities to ensure the continuity of education by offering online classes and learning experiences as a substitute for in-class time. However, the same report also highlighted that these institutions (especially universities) were often found unprepared and unable to deliver instruction through new interactive means due to a lack of competences (OECD, 2020). The recent health emergency has certainly accelerated the pace of the digital transformation in the learning and education sector, but all the elements to detect a significant turn to the digital were already there and many related processes were already unfolding. Our project acknowledges the digital transformation described above and wants to contribute to the definition of the teaching and learning of tomorrow by fostering the integration and implementation of design-based collaborative learning practices into HEIs, with a specific focus on universities. VIVA is addressing HEIs but also practice and businesses partners and the following target groups: - HEI teachers, trainers or learning facilitators (in more practical and informal settings); - Designers and developers of educational programmes; - Eventually, students and learners in all stages of HE. All partners have highlighted the urgent need to properly train HE professionals and internship mentors to adopt online collaborative learning approaches to avoid “Zoom fatigue” and low motivation among students, as well as to properly integrate web-based collaborative approaches into their regular teaching practices in combination to classroom-teaching, even after the pandemic period. In general, the needs of our target groups are: - To introduce the method and strategies of web-based collaborative learning into old and new curricula, especially in combination with other 21st century skills; - To prepare lecturers for teaching and learning with technology-based tools and instruments; - To understand the role of a facilitator in supporting learners involved in open learning, distance education, or online learning; - To support learners in the individual and collaborative construction of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, especially in informal learning; - To support learners in moving successfully through the various stages that online learners typically go through; - To support learners effectively through the use of asynchronous and synchronous communication and learning tools; - To use assessments and assignments effectively as learning tools.

VIVA, in line with the National Priorities for Erasmus+ KA2 of the Lithuanian National Agency, will foster the introduction of digital tools and methods to ensure effective learning in remote settings and will help teachers and trainers to create high-quality digital contents and make a fruitful use out of innovative online resources and tools.

For more information on the VIVA project visit https://viva-eu.org/

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