> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Wilson
> Sent: Thursday, 11 April 2002 16:55
> To: Usha Reddi; K Narayanan; Bill O'Malley; COL Staff; David Petitpierre; Glen Farrell; Walter Uegama; Weimin Yang
> Subject: Commonwealth of Learning news release: "A virtual university for small states"
>
> For your information, we released this today:
>
> For immediate release - 10 April 2002
>
> A VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY FOR SMALL STATES
>
> VANCOUVER -- Higher education experts from around the Commonwealth will meet at the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) headquarters in Vancouver, Canada, next week to explore the idea of setting up of a "Commonwealth virtual university" for small states.
>
> A virtual university was one of the recommendations of the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (14CCEM) in Halifax, Canada, in November 2000. The university would cater to states with less than 1.5 million people.
>
> 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. Recognising the value of a co-ordinated programme offering and delivering a system designed specifically for small states, the Halifax Statement on Education in the Commonwealth, issued at 14CCEM, had requested COL to pursue the establishment of a virtual university.
>
> Dr. Glen Farrell, a senior COL consultant who is supporting an international technical advisory committee that is studying the design and economic viability of the venture, has suggested that COL create a "virtual organisation" that relies on Commonwealth-wide partnerships and alliances rather than creating completely new structures. "We are thinking not in terms of a university in an institutional sense but in terms of functions that could be added to existing models. For example, the creation of content databases that could be shared, faculty development via virtual means, course material sharing and collaboration on programme and curriculum planning, and credit bank options," he said.
>
> Dr. Farrell explained that a virtual institution "can be defined as a single entity that makes intensive use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to carry out its functions, such as the development of material, the delivery and tuition of courses and the provision of student support services. But it can also be defined as a virtual organisation that consists of a consortium of institutions that work together using ICTs to facilitate their co-ordinated efforts in providing these services."
>
> A survey of current practice has already been completed to assist the committee in its discussions next week. "Later, COL will seek contributions from a wider group of education administrators and government officials,> "> Dr. Farrell stated, > "> and then COL will present its recommendations to Commonwealth Ministers of Education at their next meeting, scheduled for September 2003 in Edinburgh."
>
> The meetings will be held from 16 - 19 April 2002 in Vancouver.
>
> 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.
>
> - 30 -
>
> TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY FOR SMALL STATES:
>
> CHAIR:
> Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Commonwealth of Learning
>
> MEMBERS:
> Dr. Henry Alamango, Executive Director, Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT)
> Professor Lawrence Carrington, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Distance Education and Non-Campus Territories, University of the West Indies - to be represented at April meeting by Professor Badri N. Koul, Director of Distance Education, Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC), University of the West Indies>
> Professor Rajesh Chandra, Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of the South Pacific
> Professor Donald Ekong, Vice Chancellor, University of The Gambia - unable to attend April meeting
> Professor Michael Gibbons, Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities
> Professor Goolam T.G. Mohamedbhai, Vice Chancellor, University of Mauritius
> Dr. David Souter, Executive Director, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation - unable to attend April meeting
>
> SECRETARY:
> Dr. Glen Farrell, COL Senior Consultant and former President of the Open Learning Agency in British Columbia, Canada
>
> Further information:
> www.col.org
> www.col.org/ccem00/statement.htm
> www.col.org/about/whatis
> www.col.org/newsrelease
>
> Dave Wilson
> Communications Manager
> THE COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING (COL)
> Suite 600 - 1285 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8 CANADA
> PH: +1.604.775.8200 | FAX: +1.604.775.8210 | D. Wilson direct: 1.604.775-8259 | CEL: 604-710-8104
> WEB: www.col.org | E-MAIL: info@col.org | D. Wilson direct: dwilson@col.org
>
> Glen Farrell, direct: 1.604.775.8260 | glenf@col.org
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