HEFCE strategy for e-learning
In March 2005, we developed a 10-year strategy to integrate e-learning into higher education, 'HEFCE strategy for e-learning' (HEFCE 2005/12). The strategy is intended to enable all universities and colleges to make the best use of information and communications technologies in their learning and teaching.
It reflects responses to the consultation on our draft strategy, and has been developed jointly with the Higher Education Academy and the Joint Information Systems Committee.
We developed the strategy subsequent to the white paper 'The future of higher education (Adobe PDF 611K)' in which the Government asked us to work to embed e-learning in a full and sustainable way within the next 10 years. The Government's own strategy ('Harnessing Technology: Transforming learning and children's services', March 2005) provides the context for our work.
Funding
Investment by institutions in developing technology to enhance learning and teaching is possible through recurrent and capital grant allocations. In addition, in Circular Letter 05/2005 we announced capital funding of approximately £31 million specifically to support investment in e-learning. A further £2 million was allocated to support e-learning in directly funded further education colleges. In the capital allocations announced in January 2008 (HEFCE 2008/04), e-learning is specified as one of the areas of national strategic priority for the use of the Learning and Teaching Capital Investment Fund over the period 2008-2011.
We are also providing £8 million to fund 'pathfinder' projects. These aim to embed e-learning in institutions individually or through collaboration, and to provide case studies. More information on these projects is available from the Higher Education Academy.
Good practice
In 2006 we published good practice guidance for higher education institutions on the management of intellectual property rights (IPR) in e-learning programmes.
Further information
For more information about the strategy, please contact Alan Palmer, 0117 931 7340, e-mail a.palmer@hefce.ac.uk.
Last updated 5 March 2008