eCampus

We, the students of the Degree course "Science and Technique of Psychology" and the Master's Degree Course in "Psychology", want to emphasize that the right to education is a sacred right, guaranteed by the constitution. Therefore, we should be granted the possibility to study according to our possibilities and our needs. We believe to be the victims of unjust government measures. We have been stripped off of our roles of students just because we chose an online University. We hope that the aforementioned measures are retired or modified, and that our voice, our experiences and testimonies are heard. We want to put forward our point of view primarily because we believe that there is some sort of stigma behind online Universities.

We chose an online University for various reasons: work, family, impossibility of commuting or to move to a University town. Many mobility impaired students decided to enrol because of their difficulties in attending the lessons. eCampus meets all the aforementioned needs, enabling the enrolled to students to study with greater autonomy and freedom, in compliance with their rights and duties. Taking the witness statements, we unanimously believe that eCampus is a valid University that allows us to study with great autonomy and freedom.

The countless services provided by eCampus University are focused on the student's needs, and are structured to provide them with high quality education without the need to physically attending classes and lectures. In particular, the students are assisted by an online tutor, a highly qualified supervisor, intended as a technical, bureaucratic and motivational support. Another important figure is the Disciplinary Tutor, a professional figure entrusted with the supervision of the student for the final dissertation. Furthermore, the Disciplinary Tutor is in charge of supporting the teachers in the teaching activity and in the virtual workshops.

The computer systems and the e-learning platform are instrumental in enabling a direct contact with the professors (office hours, instant messaging, and online feedback). The University has always been committed to guarantee the right o study without discrimination. For example, the visually impaired students have access to registered audio lessons.

With regard to the theme of discrimination and the use of informatic systems, we want to emphasize that distance learning does not compromise on the quality of the instruction.

Online Universities are often accused of producing under-qualified graduates, and offering less prestigious learning pathways. Falling in these stereotypes means calling into question the equality of the online and traditional Universities.
Surely, such sterotypes are not synonymous with progress.  The measures adopted by the government discriminates the online students.

Therefore, we want to emphasize that the students who chose eCampus, chose a highly qualified learning pathway, aimed at providing them with all the knowledge, abilities and competencies needed in order to practice the profession, considering that the learning pathway requires a mandatory curricular internship.

As evidence of what has been said, we haev gathered the opinions of many students:

Gabriele: I enrolled to eCampus University three years ago, and soon I will discuss my final dissertation. I already attained a Bachelor's Degree the "traditional" way, and was forced to require several work permits in order to attend to the mandatory lectures. This does not qualify as right to education. Thanks to eCampus University everything has changed. The e-learning modality allowed me to reconcile work and academic studies, giving me the possibility to earn a Degree in  "Science and Technique of Psychology". Now I occupy a prominent position in an healthcare company. If I had attended the lessons the traditional way, my career advancement would not have been promoted. Right now I am doing my curricular internship, and soon I will be included in a prestigious project in my hometown.

Antonella: I'm 59 years old and I am 85% disabled. In spite of this I am working full time at a public service. eCampus is giving me the possibility to earn a Degree in "Science and Technique of Psychology". Attaining a Degree is very important to me. eCampus is an excellent University: the learning pathway is thoroughly devised and developed, and the exams are rigorous and accurate. I began my learning pathway many years ago at the Bicocca University in Milan, but I was forced to interrupt my studies due to my health problems... I must say that I can't find no difference with regard to the preparation and the exams. Thanks to eCampus University I can choose the best time to study. I'm sorry that the Order of Psychologists turned against us and I would recommend them to direct their attention to real problems, such as that of health professionals improvising to be psychologists without any training. I hope that this unmotivated crusade will be discontued. I'm not worried, but rather disappointed. It makes no sense to snipe at online Universities without knowing them. If this criticalities were to move forward, the state would express its indifference to the disabled people, therefore I'm hoping it's all just a big misunderstanding.

Elena: Hello, everyone. Personally, I do not understand why we should attend frontal lessons. Thanks to innovative tools such as the instant messaging system and the virtual classrooms, the students are always in contact with the professors, without the need for frontal lessons. If we were to follow to the letter the position taken by the MIUR, then even other professional (lawyers, engineers, etc.) should learn through frontal lessons, but thankfully this is not the case. And let's not forget the fact that eCampus University always requires a period of curricular internship in order to complete the learning pathway.  
I am two exams away from earning my Degree in Psychology. This is my second Degree (in 1994 I attained my first Degree in Communication). 
I still can't believe that the Order of the Psychologists promoted such an unjust measure. I worked for many Universities, and I can assure you that the exams offered by eCampus University are not that simple. 
We try to spread culture, but as soon as we use innovative modalities we demand to go back to traditional tools in order to restore the right of caste. How is it possible?
Best regards, Elena

Franca: I'm 72, and I'm attending the second year (Bachelor's Degree Course in Psychology). I enrolled because as a pensioner I have a lot of free time, yet various patologies force me to stay home. Thanks to the e-learning modality I already took 7 exams. I hope to continue because it is a great satisfaction to improve my knowledge and competencies.

Simone: Currently I am attending "Sciences and Techniques of Psychology" at eCampus Online University (Academic Year 2019-2020). I signed up for personal reasons . Attending an online University does not mean to pay for your Degree. The e-learning study modality is just a valid alternitive as frontal lessons.

Laura: Hello everyone! I'm Laura, currently I'm attending the second year of "Science and Technique of Psychology" at eCampus University. Since High School I was passionate about the fascinating world of the human mind. However, for work reasons I couldn't even try to enroll in the University. As time progressed I got married, and created a family, however my "burning passion" for the psychological matters remain intact. Therefore I decided that I would take the entrance test for a "regular University". However, as chance would have it, I was selected as a marrow donor. The procedure went on smoothly, even though I had a hard time recovering. Then I told myself: "Ok, it's now or never", and I took the entrance test to "Sciences and Techniques of Psychology". Lo and behold, I was selected among the first 300 out of 800 participants. I enrolled: MY DREAM FINALLY CAME TRUE! However, the dream was soon cut short by a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and I was forced to interrupt my academic career in order to follow a series of radiotherapy.  Once again my academic career was in jeopardy and, what's worse, my life was in danger! I managed to recover, however my husband's employee left her position, and I was forced to work even harder. Then I came up with the idea to enroll to an online University. Even though I had my doubts, I went for a meeting, and they informed me about the possibility to choose optional exams (an opportunity that Unibg did not provide). I finally enrolled: thanks to this study mode I manage my time doing what I love. And now what happens? They tell me once more that I CANNOT FULLFILL MY DREAM. I think that NOBODY SHOULD EVER DECIDE ABOUT MY FUTURE. Einstein affirmed that "WHOEVER SAYS SOMETHING IS IMPOSSIBLE SHOULD NOT DISTURB THOSE THAT ARE WORKING ON IT". The CNOP should be reminded that without POSSIBILITY, there is no evolution. It goes without saying that the CNOP should commit to the protection of the human rights and of the RIGHT TO EDUCATION. I hope that everything will work out, for tomorrow's psychologists and for tomorrow's society. Laura

Luigi: I signed the petition, as I was already aware of the umpteenth absurd decision taken by the Order. I'm pleased to report my results at the 2019 state examination. Even though I was the only one who attained a Degree at an online University, I got a perfect score. I take this opportunity to emphasize my personal gratitude to eCampus University. The abovementioned declarations are emblematic: US the students , should have the full right to education, without any stigmatisations, etiquettes, or discriminations.

We, the students request the immediate repealing of the decree, as eliminating the online Degree Courses means eliminating potential professionals, lebeling them as "inadequate". If the decree is implemented the effects could dishonour the Italian constitution.Furthermore, we should note that the University required an opinion on the service offered through a series of questionnaires and interviews.
The participation of the student's representatives to the University’s Quality Assurance Committee and the impeccable service offered, makes us understand that there are always new systems for the improvement of the didactic activities and the services.
eCampus University knows that a great desire requires great dedication. The possibility to follow your dream and realizer it is concrete.
Each student deserves to follow the learning path they dream of.

All this, along with the aforementioned motives, means to be careful of their own students, aiding them during their educational path, granting them ALL the right to study.

Sincerely us, the students' representatives; Roberta Roncone, graduate student of the Degree Course in Psychology; and the students of the Bachelor's Degree Course in "Science and Technique of Psychology" and the Master's Degree Course in "Psychology".