JISC

An article in today's Guardian (12 November 2008) claims that ministers will tomorrow state that UK universities should push to become world leaders in online higher education. 

John Denham, Secretary of State for higher education at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is likely to call not for a revival of the UK's e-University, which collapsed in 2004, but to develop a 'global Open University in the UK'.

Mr Denham sought advice from JISC Chair Sir Ron Cooke (pictured right), who provided a new report for the government on the future of British higher education online. It suggests that UK education is seen as world-class, and often world-leading, in networking, content and digital libraries, as well as access management and many areas of e-learning. 

The report does, however, make clear that room for improvement remains in generating and making available high-quality modern online learning and teaching resources. Sir Ron continues, recommending the creation of centres of expertise in educational technology and e-teaching through clusters of institutions - with comprehensive staff and student training. 

In his speech tomorrow, the Secretary of State is likely to conclude that learning resources be grouped together, coordinated nationally and provided freely. 

Keep abreast of the debate on the DIUS website or have your say on the future of higher education blog