International Award for MCI E-Learning

There is good news from the Entrepreneurial School®: recently, a particularly innovative project, which integrates and links the development of digital and professional competencies, has been honored within the framework of the renowned IELA Award program. The MCI project "ePortfolio & Digital Competencies" was recognized as an outstanding initiative in the field of e-learning at institutions of higher education. In particular, the exemplary use of technologies to improve education and performance was praised. Only three projects were awarded prizes in this category worldwide.

The "ePortfolios & Digital Competencies" project at MCI was initiated and implemented by Professor Claudia Mössenlechner, Head of MCI Learning Solutions, in close cooperation with the MCI Tourism Department. The concept is based on an ePortfolio integrated into the curriculum, in which students work on academic tasks from four different subjects. In this way, the acquisition of academic competencies is linked to the acquisition of digital skills, supplemented by critical self-reflection regarding working with the ePortfolio. The first development steps date back to 2010. Starting with the 2018/19 academic year, the concept will be extended to other departments and study programs at the Entrepreneurial School®.

Prof. Hubert Siller, head of MCI Tourism and involved in the development right from the start, takes stock: "The ePortfolio is a great initiative that has become an essential part of our Master's program. It not only supports the acquisition of competencies, but also increases the employability of our students: ePortfolios are increasingly being used in job application processes in order to document skills and abilities."

Prof. Claudia Mössenlechner, Head of MCI Learning Solutions and responsible for the project, is delighted with the award, which is confirmation of MCI's many years of commitment to the development of digital study concepts and innovative didactic models: "The ePortfolio offers students the opportunity to work independently on unstructured problems and at the same time to acquire valuable skills for the world of employment in the digital space. This will become more and more important in the future, which is in line with the feedback we have received from our students and from employers".

IELA was founded in New York in 2007 to advance e-learning knowledge and practice at institutions of higher education and in the work environment. The annual e-learning awards in the categories Mobile Learning, Blended Learning and E-Learning are intended to define standards for innovative and effective e-learning.