History

A Brief History of DIDIFR

Distance Learning (DL), by its very nature, is a flexible form of education, and the university study programs organized in this format are characterized by the use of specific electronic, IT, and communication resources, self-learning and self-assessment activities, complemented by dedicated tutoring activities. Distance Learning is an educational process that provides students with learning resources—printed study materials, interactive audio and video techniques, multimedia, and computer- or network-mediated learning technologies.

Taking these characteristics into account, as well as the University of Oradea’s desire to meet the learning needs of today’s adults—who are increasingly busy yet equally eager to study and improve themselves in order to face the dynamic demands of the modern socio-economic environment—the Department for Distance Learning (DL Department), as an integral part of the University of Oradea, was established in the 1999–2000 academic year through Decision no. 1068 / 25.11.1999 of the University Senate Bureau.

The initiation, development, and management of study programs authorized to operate in the Distance Learning format within the Faculty of Economic Sciences and the Faculty of Managerial and Technological Engineering led, over time, to their accreditation in accordance with Government Decision H.G. 676/2007, as follows:

1. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Finance → Finance and Banking – DL

2. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Accounting → Accounting and Management Information Systems – DL

3. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Management → Management – DL

4. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Business Administration → Economics of Trade, Tourism, and Services – DL

5. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Economics and International Business → International Business – DL

6. Faculty of Economic Sciences – Marketing → Marketing – DL

7. Faculty of Managerial and Technological Engineering – Engineering and Management → Economic Engineering in the Mechanical Field – DL

Based on the external evaluation methodology, standards, reference standards, and performance indicators of the Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS), all these study programs were subsequently reaccredited in the Distance Learning format, according to ARACIS address no. 235 / 15.01.2010 (see the ARACIS website for the document Validare_rapoarte_17.12.2009.pdf).

Following Senate Decision no. 163 of 18.04.2011, the Department for Distance Learning (DID) was transformed into the Department for Distance Learning and Part-Time Education (DIDIFR) after the transfer of the study program Pedagogy of Primary and Preschool Education (PIPP)—part-time format—from the Faculty of Socio-Human Sciences to the Distance Learning Department.

The DIDIFR Department is organized and operates based on its own regulations, approved by the Senate of the University of Oradea.

Main Objective of the DIDIFR Department (in collaboration with the faculties of the University of Oradea)

• Providing higher university qualifications for high school graduates holding a baccalaureate diploma through DL and/or PTE study programs;

• Offering post-university specialization, including advanced studies and master’s programs, for higher education graduates in the part-time format (PTE);

• Supporting lifelong learning, professional retraining, or advanced professional development requested by various institutions, companies, etc., through distance learning.

The DIDIFR Department collaborates with faculties and departments within the University of Oradea to deliver DL/PTE programs regarding curricula, course syllabi, teaching staff, and material resources.

DL/PTE programs are conducted under the direct coordination of the higher education institution through a single local study center, without territorial study centers.

The DIDIFR Department is led by a Director with managerial responsibility for the entire DL/PTE process at the university level, assisted by a managerial and administrative team.

Main Responsibilities of the DIDIFR Department

• Ensuring access for all students enrolled in DL/PTE programs to specific support services: enrollment assistance (through faculty-level DL/PTE offices), financial facilities (via university services), educational support (through subject tutors), delivery of learning resources, access to communication tools, appropriate tutorial support, fair assessment, record-keeping of results, and career counseling;

• Providing an effective system for promptly resolving students’ notifications and requests;

• Offering accurate and adequate information regarding study programs, types of diplomas awarded upon graduation, admission requirements, services provided, tuition fees and additional costs, educational and communication technologies used (through the university’s e-learning platform), and examination procedures;

• Ensuring communication infrastructure between students, teaching staff, and tutors through mail, telephone, fax, email, internet, and group discussions facilitated by information technologies via the university’s e-learning platform;

• Providing continuous training in DL/PTE technologies for academic and administrative staff;

• Ensuring appropriate learning resources: study materials, tutorial support, reference books, supplementary educational materials, suitable spaces for assisted meetings and individual study (including a 60 m² “DL/PTE Resource and Documentation Center”), multimedia products, computer networks, and internet access;

• Ensuring the optimal implementation of partnership agreements related to the DL/PTE educational process, the production of learning resources, and the use of educational and communication technologies.

Directors of the Department

• From its establishment until April 2004 – Prof. Dr. Anca DODESCU

• April 2004 – April 2010 – Prof. Dr. Adriana TOMESCU

• April 2010 – June 2012 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adriana GIURGIU

• July 2012 – August 2015 – Prof. Dr. Mihai BERINDE

• September 2015 – present – Prof. Dr. Habil. Ioana Teodora MEȘTER