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Abstract: In Romania, the distance learning (DL) system is relatively a new system of education, officially implemented 16 years ago. This was a big step forward aiming to modernize the traditional education. The key issue was the legislation which defines this type of education and the quality standards that higher education institutions are obliged to fulfil. As a result, public and private Romanian universities have implemented DL study programs which are accredited by the ARACIS - the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education. We would like to highlight that the diplomas obtained through DL study programs are equivalent with the diplomas obtained through traditional on-campus education.
Nowadays, the world wide trends in education reveal a spectacular increase in online education. Are we afraid to promote the online education in Romania? Are we prepared, from pedagogical and technical point of view, to design, implement and manage the online system of education in Romania? The clear reply of the authors to this questions is: "YES, we the DL practitioners in DDLUB, we are well prepared for online learning!"
In the first part of this article the author will synthesize her experience as DL practitioner within DDLUB -the Department for Distance Learning, University of Bucharest. The author will identify "lessons" that she has learned as managing director of this department, during the past 16 years.
In the second part of the article, the author will assess the complexity of the transition from the current RO-DL system to a new system similar with online system (in Europe and USA). Also, such an initiative is correlated with strategic educational programs and with the CE's initiatives.
Keywords: distance learning, online learning, rethinking education
I. INTRODUCTION - DL IN ROMANIA
During the last 16 years, University of Bucharest, like other universities in Romania started to design, to implement and to develop distance learning as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face system of education. This was a big step forward aiming to modernize the Romanian system of education; with no doubt aware, this movement was strongly influenced by the DL already existing all over the world, mainly in Europe and USA. As it concerns our case, this movement was influenced by the decision makers within the University of Bucharest...