The HyFlex model, a proposal combining face to face and digital education

CEU Universities have successfully implemented the double presence model in its classes which is fully operational for the next course 2020-2021. This way our centres may adapt to the different scenarios but the true revolution does not come so much hand in hand with technology but rather with methodology.

There is no doubt that CEU is digital: and digital is the double presence system, it is to have a campus full of multimedia resources to support teaching and it is also the integration of digital skills in the study plan. 

This technological progress is added to the COVID prevention and diagnosis measures, showing that for CEU priority is the health and safety of people forming the CEU community and their families. Preventing transmission of the pandemics at our centres is a challenge for those who are ready now.

Therefore each student may attend classes at the campus or take part from home. In the first case, they will have access to all necessary safety and hygiene measures. CEU Universities follow the guidelines defined by healthcare authorities but also have the certificate for the implementation of protocols by an independent external audit.

HyFlex classes for a complete and participative education

CEU Universities have already provided part of their classes with this system which is an innovative proposal combining virtual education experiences with face-to face experiences making the most of both options. This way at the beginning of the next year CEU will be able to offer interactive digital presence in all subjects requiring it.

The HyFlex system encourages the leading role of the student in the learning and decision making process. With an innovative approach, it brings face-to-face classes closer to those students who connect remotely through streaming, video, podcasts, etc. This way we create a new learning model that we will improve gradually and will adapt to the needs of the educational community.

Teachers will lecture both face-to-face students and those connected from outside, sharing materials with all of them through the digital board that will all see. Moreover all attendants will be able to see the rest of their peers and the teacher and also be seen by them no matter where they are.

It will be possible to connect with the class from any device and choose the camera to follow the class at each time. This way, they can see the space as if they were seating in row five for example, or from an angle that allows seeing other students or with a subjective view of the teacher. From home they will be able to ask and interact with the attendants and take part in working session with other peers. Also it will possible to record lessons, something very useful for international students in a different time zone. With this resource they will be able to follow sessions asynchronously.

Having technology adapted to the needs of this way of teaching as well as a teaching staff and students with enough technological skills is without doubt essential. This is something that does not represent a limitation for CEU Universities where digitalization has been present for years with constant training of teachers for their adaptation to technological changes.

CEU Universities have had an advantage when adopting this model. Thanks to the commitment to digital transformation in only 48 hours they were able to change from a face-to-face model to a fully remote one, once educational centres were close due to the pandemics. This foresight strengthened by strategic collaborations with technological companies places CEU at the avant-garde of education.