JISC

A new study commissioned by JISC highlights the need for universities and colleges to improve information available to students about online courses.

According to the report, institutions could do more to show students the breadth of online courses available, and accessibility could be improved by structuring the information to mirror the searching methods of potential students.

The Study of UK Online Learning was carried out by a team at the University of Oxford's department for continuing education.  It gives an up-to-date overview of UK provision for online distance learning at higher education level.

Key findings of the study

• most higher education online courses (apart from the Open University) are postgraduate level, and most could be described as professional development or with a strong vocational focus
• it can be difficult to find information about online courses on university and college websites
• the terminology used to describe online programmes is often unclear

The report recommends ways to improve the situation for both students and institutions.

David Kernohan, programme manager at JISC, said: "This is a timely and powerful piece of research that will inform the debates around online learning for years to come. Dave White and his team have delivered a comprehensive survey of e-learning activity coupled with a high level of critical analysis, setting the bar for the forthcoming department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and HEFCE Online Learning Taskforce report."

The report was commissioned by JISC at the request of the Online Learning Task Force (OLTF), which was set up as an independent advisory panel by BIS to help the UK higher education sector maintain and extend its position as a leader in online learning.

Shortly after its inception last year the OLTF identified that there was a lack of information about HE-level online learning being offered in the UK. This study has helped to shape the work of the task force, and points to a number of possible areas of development for institutions.

The OLTF is chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley, chief executive of the British Library, and includes members from universities, the National Union of Students and private sector representatives. The OLTF is considering the findings and is due to publish its final report by the end of the year, in which it will make recommendations to HEFCE, the government and the higher education sector.

Download the report