Introducing VALS project & Semester of Code
1 like1,113 views
The VALS project aims to build knowledge alliances between universities and companies in Europe by having students complete virtual internships to solve real business problems using open source software. The Semester of Code allows students to work with mentors at partner companies and foundations on proposed projects from March to July 2015. This provides students international professional experience while helping reduce the gap between academia and industry.
Introducing VALS project & Semester of Code
- 1. Introducing VALS project & Semester of Code February, 2015 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA Dr. Francisco José García Peñalvo fgarcia@usal.es / @frangp Departament of Computers and Automatics GRIAL Research Group University of Salamanca
- 2. Vir tual Alliances for Learning Society (VALS) • European project for building knowledge alliances between Universities and Companies across Europe with the aim of facing real business problems through an open innovation approach based on using and developing open software solutions through virtual placements in worldwide Companies and Foundations. • Supported by • European Union. Lifelong Learning Programme (Sub-Programme Erasmus- Knowledge Alliances) • Duration: November 2013 – October 2015 • Total amount: 533.337€ 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA http://virtualalliances.eu/
- 3. VALS Consor tium • University of Salamanca / GRIAL, SIPPE (Spain) • OpenDirective LLP (United Kingdom) • RayCom B.V. (Netherlands) • University of Bolton (United Kingdom) • University of Udine (Italy) • University of Cyprus (Cyprus) • Mindshock S.L. (Spain) • Oxford University - OSS Watch (United Kingdom) 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 4. VALS procedures • Knowledge alliances among the entities (both academic and business) • The most interestingVALS innovation is about the definition of a system of virtual placements for students in companies • Entrepreneurship skills promotion • Definition of new teaching / learning methods • Development of the Semester of Code 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 5. Semester of Code Semester in which one the students have their placements in companies and foundations related to open software Virtual placements (telework) Involved academic tutors (from the universities) and mentors (from the businesses) 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 6. Some of the Foundations and Institutions that suppor t the Semester of Code http://vps2.semesterofcode.com/projects/browse 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 7. VALS projects nature • Real problems of the participant companies and foundations • The student proposes an approach to solve the problem • The proposed approach will be implemented during the Semester of Code 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 8. How to par ticipate as student? 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA 1. Review the projects list in the Semester of Code website (http:// vps2.semesterofcode.com/) 2. Find an academic mentor from your University 3. Sign up and send your application for the proposed projects (competition with other European students) 4. If the application is accepted, the student will develop it
- 9. Students' timeline 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA The student decides to participate between January to March, 2015 The student reviews the projects proposed by the Companies to theVPS website http:// vps2.semesterofcode.com. If the student likes any of them, finds an academic mentor and applies its proposal If the proposal is accepted, the student, the company and the university fix the timeline and other details for the project The student can propose an adaptation of the project in order to be recognized as Final DegreeThesis or MsCThesis The student develops the project between March to July, 2015 (dates and timeline will be fixed with the company) The student submits the project developed within the Semester of Code to its university (if it is necessary)
- 10. Why to par ticipate in the Semester of Code? • Because the students can recognize the virtual placements like a regular internship in a business, and getting ECTS credits by this way in their university • Because the project developed within the Semester of Code could be adapted and reused to be presented as Final DegreeThesis or MsCThesis (if the academic supervisor and business mentor agree it) • Because this experience can be the beginning of the students’ professional career • Because these experiences help the students to develop generic skills like problem solving, working in industrial contexts, multidisciplinary teamwork, communication with different types of stakeholders, etc. 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 11. A real example http://vps2.semesterofcode.com/ 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 14. Conclusions • VALS presents an open innovation initiative with a win- win approach • The students win • The companies/foundations win • The universities win 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 15. Conclusions • Students – Professional experience in the real business context – Contacts in the software industry that can facilitate the start of their career – Personal experience due to operate in an international context – Academic rewards 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 16. Conclusions • Business – Find talent directly in Universities – Knowledge Alliance with the Universities – Possibility of transfer knowledge from the University to the Company 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 17. Conclusions • University – New methods for teaching and assessment – Long-term Knowledge Alliances with the industry in an international context – Possibility of importing successful practices from Business to the University – Offering real innovative possibilities to students with a great cost / benefit ratio in a crisis 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 18. Conclusions • Society – Reduction of the gap between University and Business – Better professional qualification obtained under equal opportunities in a time of crisis 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 19. More info • http://virtualalliances.eu/ • http://semesterofcode.com/ • http://vps2.semesterofcode.com • http://grial.usal.es This presentation reflects only the author‘s view and that the Agency and the Commission are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA Contact Dr. Francisco José García Peñalvo Faculty of Sciences, Department of Computers and Automatics GRIAL Research Group Plaza de los Caídos, S/N 37008 Salamanca (Spain) (+34) 923294500 (ext. 1302) fgarcia@usal.es D. Juan Cruz Benito GRIAL Research Group - Research Institute for Educational Sciences. University of Salamanca Paseo de Canalejas 169 37008 Salamanca (Spain) (+34) 923294500 (ext. 3334) juancb@usal.es
- 20. References • García-Peñalvo, F. J. (2015). Presentación del proyectoVirtual Alliances for Learning Society. Retrieved February 11th, 2015, from http://repositorio.grial.eu/handle/grial/358 • García-Peñalvo, F.J., Álvarez Navia, I., García Bermejo, J.R., Conde González, M.Á., García-Holgado,A., Zangrando, V., Seoane Pardo,A.M., Cruz-Benito, J., Lee, S., Elferink, R.,Veenendaal, E., Zondergeld, S., Griffiths, D., Sharples, P., Sherlock, D., DeToni,A., Battistella, C.,Tonizza, G., De Zan, G., Papadopoulos, G., Kapitsaki, G.,Achilleos,A., Mettouris, C., Cheung, S., Guerrero, Z., He, E.,Alier Forment, M., Mayol, E., Casany, M.J.,Wilson, S., Wilson, R., Johnson, M. (2013).VALS:Virtual Alliances for Learning Society. In F. J. García-Peñalvo,A. García-Holgado J. Cruz-Benito (Eds.), Proceedings of the TEEM’13 Track on Knowledge Society Related Projects (pp. 19-26). Salamanca, Spain: Grupo GRIAL • García-Peñalvo, F. J., Cruz-Benito, J., Conde, M. Á., Griffiths, D. (2014).Virtual placements for informatics students in open source business across Europe 2014 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference Proceedings (October 22-25, 2014 Madrid, Spain) (pp. 2551-2555). USA: IEEE • García-Peñalvo, F. J., Cruz-Benito, J., Conde, M. Á., Griffiths, D. (2015). Semester of Code: PilotingVirtual Placements for Informatics across Europe Proceedings of Global Enginnering Education Conference, EDUCON 2015.Tallinn, Estonia, 18-20 Mach 20015. USA: IEEE • García-Peñalvo, F.J., Cruz-Benito, J., Griffiths, D., Sharples, P.,Willson, S., Johnson, M., Papadopoulos, G.A., Achilleos,A.P.,Alier, M., Galanis, N., Conde, M.Á., Pessot, E., Elferink, R.,Veenendaal, E., Lee, S. (2014). Developing Win-Win Solutions forVirtual Placements in Informatics:TheVALS Case. In F. J. García-Peñalvo (Ed.), Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Technological Ecosystem for Enhancing Multiculturality (TEEM’14) (pp. 733-738). NewYork, USA:ACM 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA
- 21. Introducing VALS project Semester of Code February, 2015 540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA Dr. Francisco José García Peñalvo fgarcia@usal.es / @frangp Departament of Computers and Automatics GRIAL Research Group University of Salamanca