Abstract

The demand for e-higher education is the demand for a coherent, structured online program leading to a qualification granted by an accredited institution. The global picture of unmet demand for higher education is bleak, with Asia the region of greatest unmet demand, specifically China and India. There are innovations for change on the supply side in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Globally there are deeper forces for change on the supply side: the prospect of global markets, new modes of supply using information and communications technology, and partnerships. Innovative responses in international online higher education include the UK e-University, U21global, the African Virtual University, DIRECWAY Global Education in India and PurpleTrain.com. Barriers to solving the problem of global unmet demand for higher education include cost, access to technology, mismatch of levels and the need for quality assurance. With convergence of modes of delivery, demand for e-higher education is explored as a subset of demand for higher education. Perhaps more accurately, online delivery is a mode of supply of higher education. In this context there is logic in the extent to which e-learning is being supply driven by institutions, rather than based on hard evidence (currently lacking) of student demand.