Lobachev S.L., Soldatkin V.I., Tikhomirov V.P.

The Moscow State University of Economics, Statistics and Informatics (MESI) have a rich working experience in the field of Distance Education (DE). In 1994 MESI was beginning the establishment of numbers of the regional centers on the whole territory of Russia. Now the total amount of these centers is more than 200. The single possible technology in that moment was the case-technology. The special educational and methodical textbooks were creating on the base courses teaching in MESI. They are oriented to self learning. At the present time the number of such textbooks is more than 100. Each course encludes the educational programme and methodical instruction which helps in studying. The module principle of creating the educational plans has allowed to combine the needs of our students with requirements of high school.

Since 1997 MESI conducted the complex work of using Internet for system of Distance Education. This work can be devided into 2 main directions :

• creating the network system of Distance Education;

• building the corporative information system.

The corporative information system is created for automations into the processes of paperturning in regional educational centres. It allows to have actual and exhausting information on all most important factors of educational process. Now this system is introducing in regional educational centers of MESI.

At the beginning of 1998 the first Russian educational web site has set to work, ensuring education on programs of the state educational institution and receiving the Degree Diploma. Now MESI have six educational programs.

Software of this web site is a development of MESI author's group. In summer 1998 this software was installed on the web site of Udmurtia State University in Izhevsk.

Our work in the field of education through Internet has allowed us to accumulate a certain experience that has brought us to creating the concepts of Virtual University.

The main idea mortgaged in the concept of Virtual University is the equal integration of different educational institutions within the framework of the indivisible educational technology developped by us.

In such Uuniversity any desirous can pass an education or simply find some information about educational programs of different levels.

Structure of creating the resources for Virtual University expects the presence of alternative educationl courses on each discipline and the possibility to choose the teacher whithin the process of shaping an individual educational program by the applicant.

Virtual University combines the educational programmes of different educational institutions and this allows an applicant to chose not only profession, as well as educational institution in which it wants be educated. The Diploma is given on behalf of exactly this educational institution.

The scheme provided in exhibit explains a structure of University resources.

Creating of individual educational program occures in step of entering the university and is terminated by signing an agreement on education. Herewith, the agreement is concluded with educational institution, by which educational plans student studies.

Distinctive particularity of our approach is that educational plan and material on each discipline and teaching group forms by that educational institution, which wants to have its representation within the Virtual University. Exactly this institution ensures quality of educational material, and checking an assimilation of material, and as a result gives their own Diploma.

Software of Virtual University ensures:

• accumulation, keeping and possibility to correct the educational material;

• accumulation, keeping and possibility to correct information on teachers;

• shaping an agreement on education between the applicant and educational institution on programme formed by him;

• reglamentation of students’ access to resources of university;

• consulting for groups and individuals (of-line);

• possibility for on-line consultations and training;

• to test the knowledges using furcated system of network tests, ensuring possibility of selective and frontal testing in several modes, assigned by teacher;

• the possibility of direct contact through furcate system of chat-conferences for students and teachers.

At the nearest time we intend to conduct a broad campaign for introduction the software of the Virtual University to different regions of Russia. This will allow to create a Global Virtual University of Russia which resources cover the programs of different regions.