Virtual UniversitiesAired November 14 and 15, 1998 Listen to the show. Top of Page Related LinksFor further information, try these Web sites:
The InterviewUse the RealAudio Player to listen in as IOTA talks with Michael Gibbons. This IOTA interview took place in May 1998
Two things are happening that we need to keep in mind. The cost is forcing people to think differently. But there is a deeper issue going on than cost that has to do with the shifting values amongst students for higher eduction. What they want out if it is different from what I had when I went to university. It's far more customer oriented. They want a range of skills, not a specialty...And they're voting to go to places that can give flexible products for their needs. And among those flexible products is the ability to put some of the material on a video, or the Internet or CD-ROM or whatever it might be." Can distance independent education replace
the physical learning environment? How are traditional boundaries blurring
for universities? Can you provide a good example of a new
virtual University model? I was at the launching of the [British Aerospace Virtual University] in London last week. And the President of the company said, "we have a company $60 billion turnover and we have 47,000 students." And you think well what is that? He is looking at his human capital, staff, as students. The market for aircraft is changing all the time, the skills you need to build an airplane, finance and airplane and market an airplane are changing all the time. All of those staff need life-long learning. Having dispaired of anybody else doing it, they've done it themselves. They've set up the British Aerospace Virtual University. And what it does is it provides for those 47,000 staff or students, however you look at them, a package of learning that could go from high school to Ph.D. and on. And they do this by culling courses from existing higher education providers. And they weld them in the combination together that you want..." What lead to the formation of the
British Aerospace Virtual University? What do you think will happen to
traditional universities if corportate university models take off? Technology and other social changes
that are creating, and being created by, new environments What are some of the main ideas behind these changes? I think it is the market like phenomenon of supply and demand for specialized knowledge which is dynamic and pulling the whole thing forward. It's not going to go away. It's an impossible environment for anyone who wants to be slightly ivory towerish. So universities that maintain that position will be completely left out. Now if we just push that a bit, thinking about the ideas Robert Reich has. He wrote this very interesting book on work. He wants us to start thinking not about physicists, chemists and economists. But about problems identifiers, problem solvers and problem brokers. Now think if you were a university president. You're thinking that may be right. Now what on earth do you do?..." How have universities been responding in
Britain? What is the situation like for
universities in the Third World? What kinds of models for distance
independent educations show promise in the Third World?
Last Updated March 29, 1999 |
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