General pilot description
Since 1997 DUT offers international students a Summer School Programme on campus and on a voluntary basis, to get used to the educational culture, to experience collaborating in multicultural teams and to build a social network. As this programme was changed to a shorter introduction programme obligatory for the 600-800 new international students each year, DUT developed a two-weeks online summer programme (OSP). The two pilots took place in July 2009 and 2010, to compensate for missing teamwork skills and to bring forward the preparation period for internationals students. The OSP has been adjusted in terms of content to the introduction programme co-ordinated by the international office on campus. Moreover, many information sharing sessions within the national acculturation project funded by SURF allowed us to choose the best possible set up.

Course description
The set-up and rationale of the OSP pilot
The OSP aimed at preparing international students online for (a) working together in intercultural project teams, (b) becoming acquainted to the technical assignments at DUT, (c) becoming acquainted to the educational system at DUT, and (d) creating a social network students can rely on during their studies.

Our main points of departure were the eclectic design approach and constructive student-centred learning. The eclectic design paradigm (McLouglin, 1999) states that the presence of multicultural realities represented through the students force the designer to create assignments which allow for variability and flexibility with respect to the learning material and which reflect the input of the multicultural values present. In line with the acculturation principle it is especially this notion of different approaches to learning which become valuable assets to this type of on-line learning. The learning and knowledge creation in a network environment is generated by the possibility of accessing a diverse blend of opinions/experiences and information sources (McLouglin & Lee, 2008).

Consequently, multicultural teams were composed, which were to finish three open assignments supported for in a web-based learning environment comprising relevant information, serving both our aims and design principles. The assignments were an intercultural communication skills assignment, a technical assignment and a design assignment. Students are expect to spend around 35 hours in 12 days on the programme. The students in each team would start at the same faculty after their arrival in the Netherlands. Teams were moderated by two e-coaches (tu delft students), one pilot and wing-(wo)man, who were trained in preparation of their moderator role. E-coaches in turn were guided by supportive coaches from TU Delft. The programme manager (Karen van Oyen) supervised all the supportive coaches/e-coaches and prepared them for their roles.

Organisation
In the year 2009 two faculties joined the programme: the faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) and the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM), which means that only students who registered for a study at those two faculties could attend the OSP. Being a pilot, we limited the amount of students to 40. Participation was free of charge and on a voluntary basis. Within a short time 40 students signed up. In the end 39 students started the OSP: one student left the Programme for personal reasons. (Dopper et al, 2009.)

In the year 2010 the programme was enlarged and 240 students of seven faculties could register on a voluntary basis. Two hundred and forty student is representative of 1/4th of the international population enrolling at Delft University of Technology.  210 student registered and 192 students took part in the OSP programme. This year we had 39 teams instead of 39 students. Teams were equally distributed across the participating faculties and apart from the Aerospace faculty consisted of Master Students.

The course will be embedded as a total package deal offered to International students who registered as students at Delft University of Technology. The Online Summer Programme will be offered from next year onward by the TU Delft International Office.

BA or MA
The online summer programme is primarily offered to International students who are going to follow a Master at Delft University of Technology. However, the Aerospace faculty has participated this year with bachelor students. The Online Summer Programme is open to Dutch students as well. Ideally a mix of Dutch and International students would follow the OSP together. At present only Dutch students who have had their education in a foreign country presently participate.

Entry requirements for students  
None beside the regular institutional entry requirements for Bachelor and Master students.

• Educational system
• Teacher/student relationships
• Formative grading
• Working methods: typically project education/teamwork in multicultural teams
• Social Network

Number of ECTS
Not applicable

Type of materials used 
We've used Ning as an e-learning environment. Within the learning environment students worked together on practical assignments. Video's have been included from lecturers and international students presently studying in Delft. Students could make their own profile and could have a blog. A forum was available and students could befriend one another and exchange problems/questions around housing and studying in Delft in quick and interactive way. Next year a chat function will be added as well. Each team worked on the assignments on an a team/group page not accessible to other teams/people.

Assessment 
During the programme the e-coaches mainly check on the quality of the work.
The technical assignments are also reviewed by lecturers of respective faculties.
These lecturers provide their feedback to the group. An activity highly appreciated by the students.
Students are involved in peer- feedback in rating the best design assignment  of all the participating groups. E-coaches furthermore rate the best team process.
The 2 top teams receive a price.

Below a taster of the OSP
In the following movies a number of evaluative interviews with a 2009 participant and a 2009 coach can be seen and an evaluative group interview with students from the 2010 pilot.
Video Shalini Kurapati; participant of the 2009 pilot and e-coach in 2010. The movie was taped last year and does not include her e-coach experiences
Video Rangan Dutta: e-coach 2009/2010. Movie was taped last year as well.

Video Rangan Dutta: e-coach 2009/2010. Movie was taped last year as well.

Video of 2010 participants group.

 

Finally a poster to have an overall impression of the Online Summer Programme: 30th September, 2009, Presentation Pilot Programme 



Overzicht van in de pilot gebruikte materialen

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