The aims of this new thematic network (years 2000 to 2003) are:

• a survey concerning the available curricula in EIE (Electrical and Information Engineering) throughout the whole Europe,
• a reflection on the best practices of high engineering education in the specific field of Electrical and Information Engineering in a European perspective,
• A development of pieces of curriculum and pedagogical tools available through the internet as pre-requisites to help students for mobility exchange programmes (ex: ECTS). The aim is to allow the student to prepare him/herself before going in a foreign country by:

• acquiring the basic level,
• Beginning to learn in the foreign language and with the foreign approach the academic content of one particular course.

• To enable a curricula comparison that will facilitate the transfer of knowledge between higher education institutions.

The whole aim is to get a harmonisation of the curricula in EIE throughout Europe in order to facilitate the exchanges of knowledge, students and teachers. This harmonisation will make possible the establishment of common accreditation, crediting and certification procedures.

• People involved in the field of Electrical and Information Engineering teaching in European higher Education institutions.
• Professional engineering associations, Life Long Learning institutions.
• Students and learners in European universities.
• The set of tools developed in the project can also act as a virtual library freely usable within LLL (Life Long Learning) /ODL (Open Distance Learning) context enabling the training and knowledge updating of a large number of students and engineering professionals in Europe.

Planned Duration: 3 years ( 36 months)

• A monograph with a survey and analysis of EIE education at a European level, concerning organisation, pedagogical issues, new pedagogical tools, and main trends in education systems in EIE.
• Teaching packages in the form of short courses available via internet or on CD-ROM
• Building a site for each of the participating leading site partners, with links to the TN packages already developed, links giving access to sites of professional engineering associations and networks. This site will also rely on communication tools such as a resource centre on internet, new-letters, internet forums or newsgroups.
• This activity is essential for the development of accreditation criteria and establishment of common certification procedures between Higher Education Institutions.
• Communications in international or European conferences

This project follows and will inherit all the experience acquired in the INEIT-MUCON Thematic Network (1996-1999 and one year more for dissemination (1999-2000).

All these activities will lead hopefully to the embryo of a European virtual university in EIE.