HEFCE Online Learning Task Force
The Online Learning Task Force aims to maintain and develop the position of UK higher education (HE) as a world leader in online learning.
We set up the task force in summer 2009, and the first meeting took place in September. It is chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library.
Seminar
The task force recently held a seminar, 'What Next for Online Learning?', at the British Library on 25 June 2010. The short 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 ]
Issues for discussion
In March the task force published an update on progress (see reporting details below). In light of some of the issues discussed in the update, the task force invited views from a range of organisations that have experience of online learning.
As well as universities and colleges, this invitation stretched to employers, publishers, other private sector organisations and not-for-profit organisations.
In particular we were keen to receive responses to some or all of the following questions:
- What are the motivators behind your strategy and what are barriers and enablers that the task force should understand and try to address?
- What organisational structures and collaborations do you see as most successful in facilitating the successful development and delivery of online learning?
- How can universities and colleges create and develop appropriate cultures to ensure that online learning thrives within an institution?
- How does online learning fit into the strategic vision of your organisation over the next five to 10 years?
A summary of the responses received was reported to the task force meeting in June 2010 and, subsequently, fed into the seminar on 25 June 2010.
Areas of work
The task force has started by looking at four key areas:
- The current level of online provision in the UK, including the types of institutions and courses where it is available, the proportion of online learning compared to other modes of learning in courses, and investigating what kind of students (for example, full-time, part-time, work-based) can study via online means.
- The international market for online learning, focusing on UK HEs competitors, and considering how the UK may be able to attract a greater number of students.
- The level of demand from students new and potential for online learning provision in UK higher education institutions (HEIs).
- Student perceptions of online learning in UK HE.
The task force will also investigate costing models for online learning to support HEIs in developing this area of their learning and teaching.
Reporting
The task force will meet between autumn 2009 and 2010. It published an update on progress in March 2010 (available below), and will publish a final report towards the end of the year.
The final report will provide advice and information on online provision in UK HE. Where appropriate, it will also make recommendations to universities and colleges, funders and employers on how to target investment to develop this type of provision, and keep pace with the changing learner landscape.
Update on the work of the Online Learning Task Force
[ Download Update on the work of the Online Learning Task Force details as Adobe PDF 12K | Download Update on the work of the Online Learning Task Force details as MS Word 74K ]
Terms of reference and membership details
[ Download Terms of reference and membership details as Adobe PDF 12K | Download Terms of reference and membership details as MS Word 52K ]
Last updated 18 August 2010