Abstract:

We live in an interconnected society that, because of its rapid pace and volatility, has allowed us to shape our tools and, at the same time, be shaped by our tools. This sometimes harsh reality, where progress into a digital age has not reached society evenly and equitably, presents a number of challenges that have fuelled much of the work in higher education institutions at the level of education, research and innovation. The importance of addressing these challenges is reflected in current European programmes such as Digital Europe, which recognises the central role of digital technologies and infrastructures in everyone's personal, educational and professional lives. These information and communication technologies have pervasively made it into our lives and almost every building block of society relies on them to communicate, work, teach, learn, develop and drive innovation in all scientific fields and even solve taunting and pressing environmental problems. There is also no question that the COVID -19 pandemic has highlighted not only how dependent we are on digital technologies, but also how important it is for Europe to establish itself as an independent, leading and standard-setting player in this context. This paper presents the outline and initial results of the Digital Media Network for Doctoral Studies Experience ongoing project within the ECIU University that focuses on establishing and promoting transdisciplinary, transnational and transinstitutional advanced doctoral studies in the field of Digital Media. The ECIU University, which includes institutions from 13 European countries and 1 associate member from North America, has developed a wide range of activities that are currently helping to shape innovative current and future practises in the European higher education landscape. The project described in this paper, based on empirical and quantitative research methods and tools, has made it possible to map or closely link Digital Media education and research activities within the ECIU University. The results achieved so far include, in the field of education, more than 17 Bachelor's programmes, more than 15 Master's programmes and 8 doctoral programmes. In the area of research, there are more than 15 entities, including research centres and groups dealing with Digital Media related issues and contexts of use. The Digital Media Network for Doctoral Studies Experience, through the implementation of its model proposal, will stimulate, promote and maintain the achievement of goals, activities and a continuum of collaboration at doctoral level in the field of Digital Media in the ECIU University. The outcomes of the project will hopefully produce a model and set of guidelines that are transferable and replicable to other academic fields within and outside the ECIU University ecosystem.

Keywords:

Higher Education, Digital Media, Network, ECIU University, Communication.