The e-learning survey in the European Universities - an empirical analysis

This article aims to verify, through an empirical analysis, the interest that European universities attribute for the educational design phase in developing e-learning system. Specifically, the purpose is to understand how some specific universities implement the design of courses in e-learning system. The approach adopted for carrying out the research was mixed characterized by an exploratory research design. Initially, quantitative data were collected to identify the European universities involved in e-learning system; then qualitative research was carried out through the construction of multiple case studies and the development of semi structured interviews for selected subjects within some European universities. The quantitative survey was carried out by examining the websites of the top 100 European universities present in a ranking called Quacquarelli Symonds, better known as QS World University Rankings 2015/16, which includes the best universities based on geographical area. From this quantitative analysis of the best European universities emerges that all 100 studied universities adopt e-learning methodology. The qualitative interviews, within four specific universities, show a specific attention with regard to the design of the e-learning courses and the answers focused specifically on individual professional figures involved in the project team. Therefore the University’s managers interviewed on e-learning design focused more on the activities carried out of different professionals and not on how to implement the e-learning project entirely.