 |
 |
 |
the situation world-wide
By Professor Stuart Cunningham
Queensland University of Technology
The impact of the forces of internationalisation and technological change has been felt widely throughout the world, most noticeably in a general shift in employment from manufacturing and commodity-based industries to service industries and those based on the deployment of higher-level skills and knowledge.
To monitor these developments as they are impacting on higher education, the Australian government commissioned a study in 1997, which was undertaken by a group from the Queensland University of Technology.
While the research concluded that major large-scale technologically-driven change was not imminent, it would be highly misleading to conclude from this that technological developments are not having an impact on higher education. To the contrary, the researchers found a vast array of activities driven by different individuals and agencies.
Some governments, keen to use the potential of technology to widen access to higher education at lower cost, are sponsoring virtual universities which broker access to existing university courses. The Western Governors University, the APEC Virtual University and Open Learning Australia are all examples of this type. Many universities are expanding distance education, in many cases using the Internet, to deliver courses within their region and in some cases internationally.
While recognising that many of these ventures are only beginning, and some will fail, it is clear that there are fundamental shifts occurring in the conception of higher education and its delivery. The challenge for universities and governments will be to adapt to a dynamic new environment, where lucrative national and international markets arising from the growing importance of lifelong learning will be contested strongly by traditional universities, new forms of universities, and by non-university providers.
The conclusion is that we should neither be alarmed nor seduced by promises of global revolution in higher education arising from information technology and the involvement of media organisations. Fundamental change to the higher education sector may be coming, but it will take longer than some pundits have predicted.
Contact Details
Stuart Cunningham
Professor and Head, School of Media and Journalism
Deputy Director, Australian Key Centre for Cultural and Media Policy
Queensland University of Technology
GPO Box 2434
Brisbane 4001 Australia
Phone: (07) 3864 2119
Fax: (07) 3844 1810
Email: s.cunningham@qut.edu.au
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
