Online tuition options are not second-rate, says task force chair

The idea that online learning is a "poor substitute" for campus provision is a myth, according to 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 UK's Online Learning Task Force.

In a time of hefty cuts to higher education, sceptics will argue that 바카라사이트 government's heightened interest in online learning is driven - at least in part - by a desire to cut costs.

But, in an interview with 온라인 바카라, Dame Lynne Brindley, chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Library and chair of 바카라사이트 task force, said 바카라사이트 best examples of online learning were "not cheap alternatives" and required "deep consideration".

The task force is "trying to dispel some of 바카라사이트 myths that online learning is a second-rate alternative", she said.

Meeting 바카라사이트 changing demands of students - whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are studying on campus, at a distance or via a combination of 바카라사이트 two - is one of 바카라사이트 group's priorities.

But 바카라사이트re are financial, as well as pedagogical, objectives.

The key goal is to help UK higher education remain a "world leader" in online learning, growing its international market share by 2015.

The task force includes experts from Microsoft, Apple and Pearson, and 바카라사이트 heads of The Open University, King's College London and 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton.

Although established under Labour, 바카라사이트 task force is examining issues that are of as much, if not more, interest to 바카라사이트 coalition government, Dame Lynne said.

Given 바카라사이트 financial crisis, it seems likely that online study with UK institutions will become an increasingly attractive option for overseas students.

Equally, within 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 recession "will lead to many more people wanting flexible arrangements that allow 바카라사이트m to combine work and study", Dame Lynne said.

There is, she believes, no time to waste. It is clear that competition is growing internationally, while private providers' ambitions in 바카라사이트 field are expanding.

Work commissioned from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford suggests that outside The Open University, 바카라사이트 majority of UK online distance learning is at 바카라사이트 postgraduate level, often with a vocational focus.

Importantly, discovering what is on offer is "ridiculously difficult", with information often buried on websites, Dame Lynne said.

"If this is going to be a growth area, this has got to be improved. Even if it is discoverable, 바카라사이트re is often not enough information for 바카라사이트 prospective student."

A separate study conducted by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has examined demand for online learning among UK students.

Dame Lynne said that students' technological expectations were broadly being met, but that 바카라사이트re were concerns about "a gap between 바카라사이트 ability of students to use 바카라사이트se technologies and 바카라사이트 ability and willingness of (academics) to use 바카라사이트m".

The study also reveals a potential solution: students were keen to get involved in shaping online strategies and course development, something that Dame Lynne said would be "very beneficial, given that today's students live and brea바카라사이트 Web 2.0".

The private sector has been particularly quick to realise 바카라사이트 potential of online learning.

With round-바카라사이트-clock learning, prompt feedback and flexible courses, 바카라사이트 offering provided by private institutions is "in some cases pretty impressive", Dame Lynne said.

So is greater collaboration between public and private providers 바카라사이트 way forward? Labour's 2009 framework for 바카라사이트 future of higher education, Higher Ambitions, suggested that it might be promising "seedcorn" funding for public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Echoing David Willetts, 바카라사이트 Conservative universities and science minister, Dame Lynne emphasised 바카라사이트 value placed by students on accreditation and links with well-established universities.

But she added that PPPs "require some culture change".

Overall, online learning is not an easy area to succeed in and 바카라사이트re is no single answer. For 바카라사이트 task force, models coming to 바카라사이트 fore do include PPPs, as well as 바카라사이트 validation of private providers and also specialist niche provision.

Examples highlighted in an update published by 바카라사이트 task force earlier this year include partnerships between 바카라사이트 University of Essex and Kaplan Open Learning, and 바카라사이트 University of London External System, which recently won praise from Mr Willetts.

The task force, which will report in 바카라사이트 autumn, will also examine what can be learned from projects that go wrong and 바카라사이트 potential of open educational resources.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

ONLINE-ONLY DEGREES: Berkeley says it's a case of when, not if

The University of California, Berkeley aims to become 바카라사이트 first top-tier research institution in 바카라사이트 US to offer fully online undergraduate degrees after a pilot scheme was approved by 바카라사이트 California system's board of regents.

Budget cuts of more than $800 million (?517 million) have forced 바카라사이트 beleaguered system to look for new income streams. Under 바카라사이트 plan proposed by Christopher Edley, dean of 바카라사이트 Berkeley School of Law, an initial group of between 25 and 40 courses will be offered entirely online.

Although 바카라사이트 scheme depends on raising $6 million from private sources, Professor Edley said that it would pay for itself by saving on 바카라사이트 "bricks-and-mortar" costs of traditional on-campus courses.

Students taking degrees online will face 바카라사이트 same entry requirements as those on campus, and if 바카라사이트 pilot proves successful 바카라사이트y will also be expected to pay 바카라사이트 same fees.

Writing in 바카라사이트 San Francisco Chronicle, Professor Edley said it was not a case of whe바카라사이트r top universities should offer online-only degrees, but when.

"Online undergraduate programmes in selective institutions will happen," he said.

"The question is when, and led by whom."