Understanding global activity in higher education and research

Report of findings (abridged version) Second edition

• Joint Information Systems Committee

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12 November 2009This study, prepared by Mindset Research, has looked at activities and developments in the fields of e-Learning and e-Infrastructure supporting the higher education and research sectors in ten countries across the world: Australia; Canada; Denmark; Germany; Korea; Japan; the Netherlands; New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This report attempts to offer a flavour of e-Learning and e-Infrastructure activity in each of the study countries and in particular evaluates the geographic, economic and cultural factors which shape the way that e-Learning and e-Infrastructure are developing. It needs to be stressed that this study is not an attempt to objectively and exhaustively identify all aspects of e-Learning and e-Infrastructure in each country. We have endeavored to highlight some interesting, innovative and important initiatives – but in so doing we offer no guarantees that major initiatives have not been over-looked. Any subjects with technology at their core are subject to the problem of being out-of-date almost before they can be reported. This is clearly true of e-Learning and e-Infrastructure developments. Additionally the scope of this study – e-Learning and e-Infrastructure across ten different countries – is considerable and without limitless time and resources, the best that can be achieved is a snapshot of each country.

What is apparent is that while some countries share certain characteristics, such as population sizes and densities, systems of government and even language, in almost all cases there are factors unique to each which have shaped the way in which e-Learning and e-Infrastructure have evolved and will continue to influence their development in the future.