The document discusses the increasing importance of knowledge and higher education globally and nationally. It notes pressures on governments and universities to expand access to higher education while containing costs. This has led to policies encouraging private provision, increased student contributions, performance measures, and use of ICT to reduce delivery costs. Students now expect flexible options and personal attention. For open and distance education providers, there are challenges around research status, competition from private providers, and attracting qualified teaching staff. The document calls for a strategic review of open and distance education to determine strengths and focus, and greater collaboration among institutions.
2. Coverage International context for Higher Education Australian context Implications for Open and Distance Education
3. Context For countries in the vanguard of the world economy, the balance between knowledge and resources has shifted so far towards the former that knowledge has become perhaps the most important factor determining the standard of living – more than land, than tools, than labour. Today’s most technologically advanced economies are truly knowledge-based World Bank 1999, World Development Report, Knowledge for Development, 1998-1999, p. 16
4. Implications The level of skills and knowledge of citizens – a competitive advantage for nations Universities central to national competitiveness as knowledge producers and disseminators Unprecedented interest by governments in the missions as well as the performance of universities in research and in teaching Recognition by individuals that university qualifications are critical for personal success
5. Implications for nation states Participation in Higher Education rising in response to national and individual pressures to increase qualification levels Concerns everywhere about the public costs of maintaining research competitiveness and supporting rises in participation Concerns everywhere about the impact on quality of provision, support and outcomes as participation increases Some public concern (real or feigned) about differential access to Higher Education between social groups
6. Some Public Policy Responses Governments everywhere seek to contain costs of expansion by Increasing student contributions Differentiating institutional roles Finetuning funding Developing more stringent performance measures Encouraging private provision Identifying ICT as means to economise on delivery costs
7. Student responses Growth of the position that they are customers and want ‘good service’ The full time on campus student is becoming rarer as part time study while working or part time work while studying full time become the norm Students want flexible options, technologically mediated delivery but personal attention- high tech and high touch
8. The Australian scene Productivity argument accepted HE still a public good and increased numbers to be funded but funding regime under review Focus on action to increase participation of marginalised groups Major focus on research performance and funding Concerns about participation, access and outcomes of rural and remote communities Growth in private provision supported Dual mode institutions are the past model, flexible delivery to all is now the norm
9. Pressures on open and distance delivery internationally Renewed focus on research reinforces existing status gulfs within and between universities and could imperil a focus on teaching performance Continuing status gulf between public institutions which educate a predominately full time student population and those where the cohort is predominately part time/ distance and/or open entry- often differentiated in terms of institutional title, funding levels and accreditation requirements
10. Pressures on open and distance delivery internationally 2 Competition from private, teaching only providers which exploit economies of scale or delivery partnerships. Public providers in danger of becoming residual providers? How effectively can we cost various models of open and distance delivery? The battle for qualified English speaking academic staff over the next two decades will be intense. Low status, poorly funded institutions will find it difficult to attract staff
11. So what next? A clear eyed and honest strategic review of the strengths and weaknesses of the field by practitioners is long overdue Institutions need to decide the game they are in and seek to be the best in it- not try to be in several games Flexible delivery for all may be the right decision for most but not for all Greater collaboration among institutions whose focus is open and distance education would help to build scale, reputation, better research on the field and a stronger community of practice
