| VANCOUVER - Experts meeting here last week agreed on the merits of establishing a virtual university to serve the small states of the Commonwealth and recommended an operating structure that the Vancouver-based Commonwealth of Learning (COL) will take to Commonwealth Ministers of Education for their endorsement. COL convened the meeting as a step in its response to a request by Commonwealth Ministers of Education that it explore the creation of a virtual university to support higher education in small states. At the end of four days of discussion, the group of educational leaders from small state regions and Commonwealth organisations concluded that there are several ways that a new "virtual university" could support the work of the institutions that are currently providing higher education in the small state regions of the Commonwealth. The advice of the "Technical Advisory Committee" was that there are three important functions that a consortium of existing higher education institutions, operating collaboratively as a "virtual university", could perform that would enhance their current capacity. The first, deemed as "most critical" by the Committee, is to provide a vehicle for collaboration in the development and use of the emerging subject matter, databases and learning management systems. The Committee noted the absence of small state institutions in the membership of the many consortia that are involved in the development of content databases and concluded that, "without assistance, the small states will continue to be unable to participate in this development, which is expected to be the hallmark of virtual education in the future." The orientation and training of policy makers, institutional leaders and faculty was identified as essential related activities. "Providing leadership in the planning and design of programmes, curricula and courses that are pertinent to the human resource development needs of the states involved," was the second function called for by the Committee. "While these programmes may be more urgent in the context of continuing professional education, award-bearing programmes at the certificate, diploma, degree and advanced degree levels should also be considered." The Committee members also expressed their view that the Commonwealth virtual university, should it be established, must consider out-sourcing virtual courses and programmes from a growing number of institutions worldwide. However, they also said that it must still be able to design and develop programmes of its own if it is to ensure that the unique needs of the small states are met. The third function would involve the provision of "support services" to students, such as assessment of current skills and knowledge, advice about academic plans, quality-assured access to courses, record of learning and the provision of awards where these are not available from individual member institutions." A survey and analysis of current practice was conducted to assist with the discussions last week. The Commonwealth of Learning will be presenting an initial report, including these recommendations, to a committee of Commonwealth education ministers later this year. If the ministers endorse the recommendations in principle, or make other recommendations, the next phase of the process for COL will be to prepare an implementation plan for presentation to all Commonwealth education ministers when they next meet in Edinburgh in September 2003. Small states and small island developing nations account for 32 of the 54 Commonwealth members and issues affecting them, such as threats associated with national disasters, weak economies and isolation, have been a concern for the association as a whole. Included in their Halifax Statement on Education in the Commonwealth , issued at their last meeting in December 2000, was a request by Commonwealth Ministers of Education for COL to pursue the establishment of a virtual university designed specifically to serve small states. "Responding quickly to changing and newly identified needs of the Commonwealth, is one of the main reasons that COL exists," said Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan , the Commonwealth of Learning's president and chief executive officer and chair of the Technical Advisory Committee. "As an agent for collaboration, we are pleased that the Commonwealth has asked us to help with this new initiative." "Small nations have unique challenges in terms of human capacities, and we are specifically looking at how to address those needs through this strategy," he added. COL was founded in 1987 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver to encourage the development and sharing of distance-education knowledge, resources and technologies. |