/**
* Get the start date value from the course settings page form.
*
* @param moodleform $mform
* @param array $fieldnames The form - field names mapping.
* @return int
*/
protected function get_form_start_date($mform, $fieldnames)
{
$startdate = $mform->getElementValue($fieldnames['startdate']);
return $mform->getElement($fieldnames['startdate'])->exportValue($startdate);
}