Abstract:

The Internet completely changed the processes and mechanisms of production and transmission of knowledge, research, and learning, and it has been more and more affecting knowledge communication languages. By now, the Internet has evolved into a global platform and became the main infrastructure for knowledge exchange among people. In a few years, the Internet has become the most powerful platform across the world; it connects intelligences and allows people, belonging to countries that are different in terms of history, culture, religion and economy, to take part interactively in the development of knowledge.

Covid-19 pandemic forced the world to become aware that all institutions participating in the globalized and interconnected knowledge society are now facing an unavoidable transition, reinventing themselves through the Internet. Universities, which should be at the core of the knowledge society, have therefore the opportunity to lead this transition, knocking down their Ivory Towers using the Internet to carry out all teaching activities.

This new renaissance for the University, in order for it to be long lasting and effective, must be based on extensive and thorough research focused on organizational and psycho-pedagogical models innovation through digital technologies, combined with networks of Knowledge and Academic Alliances allowing to meet the educational needs of a globalized and interconnected society.

The aim of this proposed presentation is, therefore, twofold. First, we will introduce the tangible results of the international research carried out in the last 30 years: the distance-teaching model integrated into the Didactic Cyberspace of UNINETTUNO’s platform. Secondly, we will present UNINETTUNO’s internationalization model, fostering the development of a global network of public and private universities sharing their knowledge, shared resources and technologies, curricula, research laboratories, while preserving the specificity of the individual universities as a value and enrichment of the network.

The conclusion of this presentation will propose our vision about the XXI Century University and its strategic importance, in both academic and political contexts, in developing online educational contents with global university networks.

Keywords:

Online Higher Education, Knowledge alliances, Research, Internationalization.