The 6th International GUIDE Conference

The Global Economic Crisis and its consequences on the national educational systems: Can online education contribute to overcoming the crisis?

At Megaron Athens International Conference Centre (Athens, Greece).

On October 3-4, 2013, the 6th International GUIDE Conference will analyze the current situation of the various national or regional higher education systems that share common problems and prospects. It will highlight the role of digital technologies in providing cost-effective equal learning opportunities, while maintaining a high quality university education.

Higher education and E-learning researchers and experts will gather in Athens (Greece) to discuss the reforming of national higher educational agenda; pedagogical innovation in course design and delivery; higher education in a time of economic crisis; and social implications of distance learning.

Each International GUIDE Conference gathers around 250 e-learning practitioners and learning technology experts to discuss new trends and developments in technology-enhanced learning, to share ideas and to network with colleagues around the world.

Keynote and highlighted speakers of the upcoming International GUIDE Conference:

• Welcome address by Prof. Alessandra Briganti (Marconi University, Italy)
• The Impact of the Crisis on the Structure of Higher Education Systems by Prof. Andrea Gentile (Marconi University, Italy)
• Surviving Economic Crises through Education by David R. Cole (University of Western Sydney, Australia)
• Distance Learning and Labor Market Flexibilty by Christodoulos Stefanidis (University of Pireus, Greece)
• Global knowledge, information technology and the humanities: can intellect exist? A historian's view by Dr. William Mallinson (Ionian University, Greece)
• OER and MOOCs in a Time of Economic Crisis by Sir John Daniel and Stamenka Uvalic-Trumbic (Academic Partnerships, U.S.A.)
• Economic Crisis and Online Education by Panagiotis E. Petrakis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece)
• MOOCs: Disruptive Force or Disorienting Distraction? by Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr. (St. Leo University, U.S.A.)
• Distance learning as a Strategy for National Development: Blended Education that serves the Mission by Muhammed el Sadanni (MISR University for Science & Technology, Egypt)
• The elearning as a response to social challenges: Portrait of a situation by Maria de Fatima Goulao (Universidade Aberta, Portugal)
• On the Effectiveness of Virtual Labs in Universities - Case studies from an Indian National Mission Project by Shyam Diwakar (Amrita University, India)
• MOOCs and Global Distance Learning: Compatibility or Conflict? by Paul Edelson (Stony Brook University/SUNY, USA)
• Improving the efficiency of educational process by immersion in virtual reality by Mikhail Lavrentyev (Novosibirsk State University, Russia)

If you are interested in contributing to the Conference as speaker, you can send your proposal before May 31, 2013. The 2013 International GUIDE Conference provides private companies an opportunity to showcase their products and services to the event target audience through the Exhibitors' Forum.

Main Speakers (as of May 9, 2013)

Alam, Shafiqul  Bangladesh Open University  (Bangladesh)

Alvarado Rodríguez, Edilia  Universidad Católica Cecilio Acosta (Venezuela)

Aoki, Kumiko  The Open University of Japan  (Japan)

Boncuţ, Mioara  University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu - ULBS  (Romania)

Boutsia, Christine  University of Piraeus (Greece)

Caporusso, Nicholas  ARTI - Regione Puglia (Italy)

Carmichael, Patrick  University of Bedfordshire (UK)

Castolo, Carmencita  Polytechnic University of the Philippines  (Philippines)

Coll, Jose  Saint Leo University (U.S.A.)

D'Ambrosio, Maria  University Suor Orsola Benincasa of Naples (Italy)

De Gasperis, Giovanni  University of L'Aquila (Italy)

Demiray, Ugur  Anadolu University  (Turkey)

Diwakar, Shyam  Amrita University  (India)

Dreyer, Anne  TÜV SÜD Akademie GmbH (Germany)

Edelson, Paul  Stony Brook University - SUNY (U.S.A.)

Eggert, Werner Intajor - International Academy of Journalism  (Germany)

El Hakim, Yassein  University of Winchester (UK)

El Sadanni, Muhammed MISR University for Science & Technology (Egypt)

Esampally, Chandraiah  Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University  (India)

Fainholc, Beatriz  CEDIPROE, Universidad Nacional de la Plata  (Argentina)

Goulão, Maria de Fátima  Universidade Aberta (Portugal)

Gouveia, Luis Borges  University Fernando Pessoa  (Portugal)

Grama, Blanca Giorgiana University Lucian Blaga of Sibiu - ULBS  (Romania)

Grasedieck, Dieter  Universität Essen-Duisburg  (Germany)

Guralnick, David  Kaleidoscope Learning  (U.S.A.)

Gurba, Krzysztof  Pontifical University of John Paul II  (Poland)

Gutierrez Leal, Pedro  Universidad Nacional Abierta de Venezuela (Venezuela)

Ipaye, Babatunde  National Open University of Nigeria - NOUN  (Nigeria)

Khapaeva, Svetlana  Sholokhov Moscow State University for the Humanities (Russia)

Lavrentyev, Mikhail  Novosibirsk State University (Russia)

Lominadze, Tamar  Georgian Technical University  (Georgia)

Lvova, Olga  Moscow City Pedagogical University (Russia)

Martinez, Sergio  University of Cantabria (Spain)

Mendonça, Murilo Matos  Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina - UNISUL  (Brazil)

Nasereddin, Mustafa  Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization - TAG-Org  (Jordan)

Nieto, Haydée Isabel  Universidad del Salvador (Argentina)

Rimanelli, Marco  Saint Leo University  (U.S.A.)

Robertson, Robert W.  Argosy University  (U.S.A.)

Sánchez Herrera, Gloria C.  Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia  (Colombia)

Schumann, Christian-Andreas  West Saxon University of Zwickau (Germany)

Sisto, Luigi  CIHEAM-Istituto Agronomico Mediterraneo Bari (Italy)

Van der Merwe, Hettie University of South Africa (South Africa)

Yamada, Arthur O.  Honolulu University  (U.S.A.)

Programme:

Thursday 3rd October: 9am – 6pm

Opening Session plus Plenary sessions and Exhibitors' Forum

Social Gala Dinner

 Friday 4th October : 9am – 6pm

Plenary sessions plus Closing Session

Deadlines:

Abstract Submission: May 31, 2013

Final Paper Submission: June 30, 2013

Fee Payment: July 5, 2013

Conference venue:

The 6th edition of the International GUIDE Conference will be held in Athens, Greece, at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, one of the finest and most technologically advanced conference venues in Europe. Situated in the city centre yet surrounded by its own extensive landscaped gardens, Megaron offers a stunning environment, exceptional aesthetics, cutting edge technology and unrivalled client service. MAICC is part of the Athens Concert Hall Organisation.

Megaron occupies a central location right in the heart of the city. To get there by public transport:  •  Metro: Concert Hall Metro Station •  Bus: Ε14, Χ14, Α5 and 550 •  Electrically-driven bus: 13, 10, 8 and 3

Registration:

To submit your proposal and participate as a SPEAKER, fill in the Call for papers form on our webpage: http://www.guideassociation.org/guide_2013/index.php/en/registration

To register as an AUDITOR, please use the Registration Form on the Conference webpage.

Deadlines:

• Abstract Submission: May 31, 2013
• Final Paper Submission: June 30, 2013
• Fee Payment: July 5, 2013

Participation Fees

GUIDE Members   150 euros

Universities and Institutions from developing countries   100 euros

Non-GUIDE Members   250 euros

IELA Members   200 euros

Students   Free admission

Submission procedure for speakers

1 - Abstract submission through the Call for Papers form by May 31.

2 - Abstract blind peer reviewed by at least three members of the Scientific Committee

3 - Confirmation of acceptance or refusal of abstract within three weeks from the submission.

4 - Final papers sent by June 30 

5 - Fee payment by July 5 (via bank transfer or credit card).

* Accepted papers will be included in the Conference Proceedings CD.    A limited number of papers considered to be highly valuable and innovative will be published in the next issue of FormaMente, the official publication of the GUIDE Association (ISSN: 1970-7118)