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E-University E-University developments in Britaindevelopments in Britain

Professor Paul BacsichSheffield Hallam University

Great Britain

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OverviewOverview– E-University theoryE-University theory

– The new UK e-UniversityThe new UK e-University

– University for IndustryUniversity for Industry

– The Open University responseThe Open University response

– Oxbridge and the Russell GroupOxbridge and the Russell Group

– New UniversitiesNew Universities

– ScotlandScotland

– Issues, analysis and conclusionsIssues, analysis and conclusions

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E-University Theory - 1E-University Theory - 1Dimensions of VirtualityDimensions of Virtuality

Students Staff

IT

Legal

Buildings

Modules

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E-University Theory - 2E-University Theory - 2Business ModelsBusiness Models

• OutsourcingOutsourcing

• Joint ventures Joint ventures

• Consortia...Consortia...

• Broker modelsBroker models

• University-Corporate partnershipsUniversity-Corporate partnerships

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UK e-University - 1UK e-University - 1www.hefce.ac.uk/News/www.hefce.ac.uk/News/

• student-orientatedstudent-orientated

• qualityquality

• innovationinnovation

• flexibilityflexibility

• cost-effectivenesscost-effectiveness

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UK e-University - 2UK e-University - 2Structure and marketStructure and market

• Holding company collectively owned by Holding company collectively owned by HEIsHEIs

• Joint venture with corporate worldJoint venture with corporate world

• Market:Market:– UK postgraduates and CPDUK postgraduates and CPD

– corporate universities and businesses corporate universities and businesses

– selected overseas markets – individuals, selected overseas markets – individuals, companies or governmentscompanies or governments

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University for Industry - 1University for Industry - 1www.ufiltd.co.ukwww.ufiltd.co.uk

• Classic Broker modelClassic Broker model

• Oriented to colleges not universitiesOriented to colleges not universities

– e.g. adult literacy and numeracye.g. adult literacy and numeracy

• DirigisteDirigiste

• Standardised technology and systemsStandardised technology and systems

• Fretwell-Downing “Learning Environment”Fretwell-Downing “Learning Environment”

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University for Industry - 2University for Industry - 2New DirectionsNew Directions

• Bite-sized learningBite-sized learning

• Online learning (I.e. Web not CD-Online learning (I.e. Web not CD-ROM)ROM)

• Worldwide strategic partnershipsWorldwide strategic partnerships

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UK Open University UK Open University responseresponse

• ““We will be an e-university too”We will be an e-university too”

• 150,000 students online, via FirstClass150,000 students online, via FirstClass

• One course has 13,000 students onlineOne course has 13,000 students online

• Corporate University initiativeCorporate University initiative

• US Open University subsidiaryUS Open University subsidiary

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Oxbridge and Russell Oxbridge and Russell GroupGroup• Cambridge-OU alliance for e-MBACambridge-OU alliance for e-MBA

• Oxford with Stanford, Princeton, YaleOxford with Stanford, Princeton, Yale

• Warwick??Warwick??

• Universitas21: Universitas21: www.universitas21.orgwww.universitas21.org– Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow,

Nottingham + worldwideNottingham + worldwide

• Sheffield + US partners; etc etcSheffield + US partners; etc etc

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New UniversitiesNew Universities• Global University Alliance: Global University Alliance: www.unext.comwww.unext.com

– Derby, Glamorgan + overseasDerby, Glamorgan + overseas

• Large new universities on their own:Large new universities on their own:– Sheffield Hallam: “Virtual Campus”: large Sheffield Hallam: “Virtual Campus”: large

FirstClass siteFirstClass site

– De Montfort: “Electronic Campus”De Montfort: “Electronic Campus”

– Coventry: first large UK WebCT siteCoventry: first large UK WebCT site

– Robert GordonsRobert Gordons

– Huddersfield: first UK Blackboard siteHuddersfield: first UK Blackboard site

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ScotlandScotland• University of Highlands and IslandsUniversity of Highlands and Islands

– consortium of collegesconsortium of colleges

• Scottish University for Industry:Scottish University for Industry:– focus on linking learners to learning focus on linking learners to learning

opportunitiesopportunities

– ““a broker and facilitator, providing a broker and facilitator, providing information, support, guidance, advice information, support, guidance, advice and encouragement to learners”and encouragement to learners”

– not chosen a standard MLE yetnot chosen a standard MLE yet

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Issues - 1Issues - 1

• Learning System StandardsLearning System Standards

• Change ManagementChange Management

• RolesRoles– of consortiaof consortia

– of “conventional institutions”of “conventional institutions”

– of funding agencies (HEFCE, JISC, etc)of funding agencies (HEFCE, JISC, etc)

• Procurement of systemsProcurement of systems

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Issues - 2Issues - 2New Procurement New Procurement ParadigmParadigm• ““conversation” between customer conversation” between customer

and supplier business modelsand supplier business models

• Generalised features:Generalised features:– system information (such as architecture,

scalability, standards)

– user information (such as “industrial-strength” reference sites)

– “futures” information on pedagogy and technology

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Issues - 3Issues - 3Looking “beyond” HE and Looking “beyond” HE and FEFE

• UK HE and FE models inadequately UK HE and FE models inadequately richrich

• Must look “across borders”:Must look “across borders”:– at corporate U’sat corporate U’s

– at schoolsat schools

– at business models in e-businessat business models in e-business

– at US/Canadian/Far East HE modelsat US/Canadian/Far East HE models

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Issues - 4Issues - 4Barriers to e-universitiesBarriers to e-universities

– Lack of Lack of trainingtraining in new technologies in new technologies

– Lack of Lack of transparenttransparent tools tools

– Lack of Lack of compellingcompelling pedagogical evidence to pedagogical evidence to support a move to e-learningsupport a move to e-learning

– Lack of Lack of standardsstandards

– Lack of Lack of water-proofwater-proof network: “net tone” network: “net tone”

– (Lack of) Diffusion of innovat(Lack of) Diffusion of innovatorsors as well as as well as innovations?innovations?

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Issues - 5Issues - 5Implementation errorsImplementation errors

– An old or too young person is given the lead roleAn old or too young person is given the lead role

– R&D becomes more exciting than R&D becomes more exciting than implementationimplementation

– Adoption/roll-out jump is badly doneAdoption/roll-out jump is badly done

– Periphery fights the centrePeriphery fights the centre

– An old-fashioned department gains controlAn old-fashioned department gains control

– Funding dies out (EU beware)Funding dies out (EU beware)

– Lack of support from Lack of support from toptop management management

– Lack of compelling positive visionLack of compelling positive vision

– Drift into technical managementDrift into technical management

– Omitting to do Omitting to do constantconstant awareness-raising awareness-raising

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Thanks for listeningThanks for listening

Professor Paul BacsichProfessor Paul BacsichVirtual Campus Research Virtual Campus Research ProgrammeProgrammeSheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield Hallam UniversityGreat BritainGreat Britain

p.bacsich@shu.ac.ukp.bacsich@shu.ac.uk