Abstract:

Digital technologies and virtual environments have become an integral part of Higher Education (HE) due to the increasing presence of digitization, and a rapid transition to virtual learning spaces was necessary. In the virtual space, e-tutors have become key figures in designated e-learning environments. As such, the competencies of e-tutors are crucial. The European Union's Lifelong Learning Framework emphasizes the responsibility of HE institutions to train graduates for a work environment focused on competencies. The Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL) framework is linked to Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Recent studies have identified nine competence areas for e-tutors in HE. Communicative, pedagogical, and social competencies are critical. Despite their relevance in online collaboration, there is a lack of comprehensive methods for enhancing e-tutor competencies in the existing literature. This research addresses this gap by creating a compendium of methods combining contemporary and conventional techniques for refining e-tutor competencies. The catalog is intended to serve as a practical tool and decision-making basis for training e-tutors in HE institutions. To achieve this objective, this study aims to identify methods for enhancing e-tutor competencies. These methods will be evaluated through the lens of e-tutors and course instructors, structured into a catalog, and explored for practical implementation. The methodological approach in this study includes literature research, focus group discussions, and a supplementary survey. The results contain numerous methods for each competence that can be implemented on- and off-the-job. Additionally, the methods were plotted based on their feasibility for HE and their respective resource requirements.

Keywords:

E-Tutors, Higher Education, Competence Development, Collaborative Online International Learning, Virtual Collaborative Learning.