• Online Learning Task Force

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14 February 2011Universities and colleges need to make online learning a central part of organisational strategies if they are to meet rapidly changing student demands and stay competitive in the global higher education (HE) market. So says the report, 'Collaborate to compete: Seizing the opportunity of online learning for UK higher education', published today by the Online Learning Task Force.

Those UK higher education institutions (HEIs) that are prepared to make online learning a central focus will be able to develop responsive, engaging and interactive education that is both high quality and cost-effective.

They will also need to take advantage of rapidly developing technology and rich sources of content, and invest in high-quality learning, if they are to remain globally competitive against the challenge from international and private providers.

The report showcases 14 online innovative approaches to course delivery in the UK, including partnerships between HEIs and the private sector.

The report also makes six recommendations to institutions and the wider HE sector. They include: use of online learning to enhance student choice and meet learners' expectations; realignment of training and development to support academics to play a leading role in online provision; and the development and sharing of open educational resources to enhance efficiency and quality.