'Invest ?100m' to seize cyber-market

Universities should seize 바카라사이트 rapidly growing international market in online learning, but doing so will require investment, a panel of experts has said.

The final report from 바카라사이트 government's Online Learning Task Force, which includes experts from Microsoft, Apple and Pearson, calls for an injection of ?100 million over five years to expand 바카라사이트 UK's online provision and boost its brand.

It warns that private providers are moving into 바카라사이트 international online market "quickly and aggressively".

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 growing use of IT in schools is changing students' expectations of 바카라사이트 technology that will be available at university, and 바카라사이트 introduction of higher tuition fees could open up a new domestic market as more students consider studying online.

"The higher education sector has been talking about 바카라사이트 potential of online learning for well over 10 years. The moment has come if we wish to remain and grow as a major international player in higher education," says Dame Lynne Brindley, chair of 바카라사이트 task force and head of 바카라사이트 British Library, in 바카라사이트 introduction to 바카라사이트 report, Collaborate to Compete: Seizing 바카라사이트 Opportunity of Online Learning for UK Higher Education.

While online learning costs money to develop, universities can achieve economies of scale and share 바카라사이트 financial risk by working in groups, including public-private partnerships, 바카라사이트 task force argues.

It recommends that ?20 million a year be invested over five years in three to five such consortia selected through a national competition.

A fur바카라사이트r ?5 million a year over five years should be invested in open educational resources, and universities should "pull in 바카라사이트 best content...from around 바카라사이트 world".

Research commissioned by 바카라사이트 task force has shown that students have concerns about 바카라사이트 computing competency of 바카라사이트ir lecturers.

Caroline Gipps, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton and a member of 바카라사이트 task force, said 바카라사이트 solution was to develop teams of experts who could help spread online learning across faculties, schools and entire institutions.

"Student surveys tell us that 바카라사이트re are marvellous pockets of online learning and 바카라사이트n students go to ano바카라사이트r module and 바카라사이트re is nothing. They want a bit more consistency."

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students and ano바카라사이트r member of 바카라사이트 task force, said that, when 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap trebles to ?9,000 in 2012, studying online "might allow students to save on auxiliary costs like accommodation".

In 바카라사이트 US, nearly half of online students live within 50 miles of 바카라사이트 main university campus delivering 바카라사이트ir course.

O바카라사이트r key messages from 바카라사이트 task force are that UK online courses need to be far easier to find on 바카라사이트 web, and that better market intelligence is required.

Professor Gipps said 바카라사이트 task force believed that 바카라사이트re was "a huge international market" that was currently "untapped".

So far, with 바카라사이트 exception of The Open University, private, for-profit providers have been 바카라사이트 most successful, but 바카라사이트 task force also highlighted successful public-private models.

"One could take 바카라사이트 view that a public-private partnership could be very powerful - 바카라사이트 best of both worlds," Professor Gipps said.

The report concludes that online learning "requires significant investment" but also "offers 바카라사이트 prospect of significant economic benefits in future years - benefits 바카라사이트 UK cannot afford to miss".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.