Task force to help extend position of UK as world leader in online learning
An online learning task force has been set up to help the UK higher education sector maintain and extend its position as a world leader in e-learning.
The new body, which includes Jisc's chair Professor Tim O'Shea, will make recommendations to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and other relevant government agencies and institutions to develop excellence in online learning.
The task force, chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley, chief executive of the British Library, will begin by looking at four key areas: the current levels of online provision in the UK; the international market for online learning; levels of demand from new and prospective students; and perceptions of online learning in UK universities.
The team will also investigate different business models for delivering online learning to help universities plan their provision. Meeting over the coming year, the task force will provide an interim report in the spring and a final report in October 2010.
Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of HEFCE, said: 'The task force intends to encourage debate and discussion on an increasingly important topic in higher education: how to maximise the potential of online learning and technology in order to satisfy the needs of students, education providers and employers.
'The evidence this group gathers, and its recommendations, will play a crucial role in extending the UK’s position as a world leader in online learning over the next few years. It will provide valuable guidance on how to target investment in order to keep pace with the ever changing learner landscape.'
Dame Lynne Brindley said: 'I am delighted to be chairing this new task force exploring the increasingly important role of online learning. We are looking at how to meet the changing demands of students and employers, creating a flexible approach to learning and enabling the UK's higher education sector to compete successfully in a global market.'