HEFCE Online Learning Task Force
The Online Learning Task Force (OLTF) published its final report 'Collaborate to compete: Seizing the opportunity of online learning for UK higher education' in January 2011.
It concluded that online learning – however blended with on- or off-campus interactions, whether delivered in the UK or overseas – provides real opportunity for UK institutions to develop responsive, engaging and interactive provision which, if offered at scale, can deliver quality and cost-effectiveness while meeting student demands for flexible learning.
The report showcases the work of 16 university and consortia courses in the UK including partnerships between HE institutions and the private sector.
It makes six recommendations to institutions and the wider HE sector. They include:
- using online learning to enhance student choice
- realignment training and development
- developing and exploiting open educational resources.
The OLTF was set up to research and investigate how the UK could maintain and extend its position as a world leader in online learning. It was chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, and met five times between September 2009 and November 2010.
Other useful information
The task force held a seminar, 'What Next for Online Learning?', at the British Library on 25 June 2010 to discuss emerging findings. The summary below outlines the main points of discussion at the seminar.
Summary of 'What next for online learning?' seminar
[ Download Summary of 'What next for online learning?' seminar as Adobe PDF 27K | Download Summary of 'What next for online learning?' seminar as MS Word 59K ]
Copies of the presentations given on the day are available below:
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library and Chair of the Online Learning Task Force – What Next for Online Learning?
[ Download Lynne Brindley - 'What Next for Online Learning?' as MS PowerPoint 297K ]
Stuart Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer, Open Universities Australia – What next for Online Learning: the Australian Version
[ Download Stuart Hamilton - 'What Next for Online Learning?' as MS PowerPoint 331K ]
Roxanne Stockwell, Group Innovation Director, BPP – Introduction to BPP
Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor, Open University – Challenges and Opportunities in Online Learning
[ Download Roxanne Stockwell, Group Innovation Director, BPP – Introduction to BPP as Adobe PDF 1.2Mb ]
The OLTF published an update on progress in March 2010 (available below).Interim report of the Online Learning Task Force
[ Download Interim report on the work of the Online Learning Task Force details as Adobe PDF 12K | Download Interim report on the work of the Online Learning Task Force details as MS Word 74K ]
Last updated 27 January 2011