Implementation of a virtual education system in an institution of higher education

This article presents the model followed by the University Santiago de Cali in the implementation of virtual education courses. The system has developed in five stages: (1) Teacher Training, (2) Presentation of the Virtual model and the Institutional Educational Project, (3) Definition of the courses to begin implementation, (4) Development of Research processes for the design and implementation of virtual products, (5) Acquisition of the Qualified Registration of these academic programs. The proposed stages have been executed in a nonlinear time sequence, according to institutional needs, its social environment and the available logistic and technological infrastructure. In the four years of the project's life, 615 teachers have been trained in elearning and b-learning technology, 780 virtual courses have been designed and a virtual radio broadcasting station (http://emisora.usc.edu.co)have been implemented supporting the activities of the Journalism and Advertising faculties by the Department of Virtual Education. The software infrastructure has been built around open source systems and the process of acquiring the qualified registration for the virtual specializations in Administrative Law, Human and Organizational Development, Environmental Management and Sustainable Development is well under way, and the registration for the Basic Education Program with emphasis in technology and informatics has been secured. The Master in Higher Education and the Biomaterials Specialization also show a large component of virtual education in their curriculum.