The e-virtual professor - an international network of universities for computer assisted learning education in mechanical engineering

Up to now education systems focus on the traditional face to face transfer of knowledge. Rising competition on global markets, the continuously accelerating manhunt for the most qualified brains and permanently shortening innovation and product life cycles generate a huge demand for continuous education with no regard to country borders or people's social rank. This newly designed education tool is operated as a virtual network of competencies. The main objective of the partners is to develop education materials for students. The paper describes the network structure and first results and examples of the common activities. Using modern information and communication technologies the system becomes independent of borders, human resources or other restrictions.