Introduction
Aims and objectives Organization Contact

Introduction

The SOCRATES/ERASMUS programme of the European Commission has established thematic network projects in order to develop selected themes in higher education and give them a European dimension.

Advanced Computing in the Humanities (ACO*HUM) is one of twenty-eight networks started in 1996. The theme of our network has been the increasing use of advanced computing in teaching and learning in the humanities, with its problems and possibilities.

About one hundred European universities, professional associations and other organizations found this theme so important that they have chosen to work on it together, rather than individually. In this way, they hoped to cope with the challenge for universities to change due to the new technologies and their effects on our society.

ACO*HUM has been investigating the impact of new information and communication technologies (ICT) on curriculum content, scientific methodology and learning methods at institutions for higher education. The project has also paid attention to the relevance of new technologies for humanities content providers, such as museums, libraries, and archives.

ACO*HUM finished its work on October 31, 2000.  The main results can be consulted via the homepage.


Aims and objectives

ACO*HUM has investigated the use of new technologies in Humanities teaching and learning, by identifying opportunities, problems, and good practice with respect to the integration of advanced computing into the wider humanities curricula. Our multilateral educational research had the following objectives:

Humanities education: needs for change

Humanities education: innovation in curricula

Humanities education: new processes for learning


Organization

In ACO*HUM, universities in seventeen countries have worked together with professional associations, existing groups of Universities, companies, museums and other humanities content providers, learned societies and other international networks.

The coordinating institution was Universitetet i Bergen (Norway). The project has been supported by the European Commission through a contract under the SOCRATES/ERASMUS thematic network project action. Coordination and management of the various project elements was the task of the project coordinator, Prof. Koenraad de Smedt, supported by a steering committee, working groups and a project administrator.

The activities of the network were meant to be relevant for a wide range of areas in humanities scholarship. The following working groups were established:

The working groups initiated activities and gathered results. Activities included conferences, workshops, surveys, area meetings, curricula research, ODL tests, information infrastructure and joint activities with other networks and associations. ACO*HUM encourages wide participation and ensures effective dissemination of results throughout the network by meetings and Internet-based communication and resources.

For further information, please contact:

ACO*HUM
University of Bergen, HIT-centre
Allégaten 27
5007 Bergen, Norway

tel. +47 55582970, fax +47 55589470

http://www.aksis.uib.no/AcoHum