National Virtual Universities
Key Resource, September 2004
National Virtual Universities (NVU), which evolved out of the dot.com boom, are (generally) government lead initiatives aiming at expanding and improving flexible learning at national (and sometimes international) level. NVUs have been established in Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Syria and Pakistan. The UK e-University was established in 2000, however, this initiative was discontinued in April 2004 (for further information, see the Observatory's article from 23 April 2004). There are four main types/models of NVUs: 1) export-based 2) widening access and participation focused 3) research and development focused 4) industry focused in partnership with foreign providers Naturally, each of the above models is simplified and many of the virtual universities encompass more than one model (e.g. the UKeU would assert a commitment to widening participation in the UK, and research and development into online tools and techniques for the benefit of other UK universities). Adoption of a particular model is partly determined by economic and cultural factors, such as the maturity of domestic higher education and its export value (e.g. English as an international language). Some countries have pursued alternatives to the 'National Virtual University'. Examples include regional virtual universities (e.g. the African Virtual University and the Arab Open University) and initiatives within a country covering a certain geographical area (e.g. the Western Governors University and the Southern Regional Electronic Board in the US). Some countries have left the development of virtual universities to individual organisations, in some cases supported by earmarked funds.
1 Export-based
Universities established on this model aim to export domestic university provision to the international higher education market. Such institutions tend to combine online provision with elements of face-to-face support provided through partnerships with in-country education institutions and companies.
UK eUniversities Worldwide
The UK eUniversity (UkeU) was set up with the aim of exporting domestic higher education provision internationally and increasing national capacity at the same time. When the UKeU was launched in 2000, there were plans to export its programmes to Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Brazil. Export to Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam was scheduled to be included at a later stage. The UK government allocated GBP £ 62 million (approximately US$ 111 million) to the project between 2001 and 2004. Like many other ambitious online ventures in higher education, UkeU went through a lengthy development period, working on turning the vision into a workable reality. Following disappointing enrolment figures (only 900 students were studying with the institution by November 2003) and lack of private funding, it was announced in February 2004 that the venture was judged to be unsustainable in its current form. It was later decided to close the institution altogether. Recruitment and marketing activities have ceased and negotiations are underway to transfer activities and assets to other parts of the UK higher education sector.
There is no longer a web site for UkeU. Further information is available for Observatory subscribers in the Observatory's article from 23 April 2004.
2 Widening participation and access focused
This model aims at widening access to higher education, in particular for people with work/family commitments or who live in remote areas. Typically, online provision from domestic higher education institutions is made available through a portal. This model furthermore provides students already enrolled in the higher education system with a wider choice of courses and the option to study through an alternative mode.
Swedish Virtual University (in Swedish)
The Swedish Net University (SNU) was launched in March 2002 with the main aim of expanding the provision of distance learning within higher education. It is a government led initiative and has been established as a co-operation between higher education institutions building on courses already available. As an initial incentive, institutions were given an extra grant (a total of 100 million Swedish Kroner- approximately US$ 13.3 million- for 2004) from the government if they offered courses through the Net University. Courses at the University are provided free of charge, but the number of places is limited,to 2,350 (2002). The Swedish Net University Agency has been established to administer the SNU. The Agency's main task is to co-ordinate the courses and programmes provided by participating universities.
Canadian Virtual University (in English)
The Canadian Virtual University (CVU) was launched in September 2000 and is a consortium of 13 Canadian universities. CVU is based at Athabasca University, the country's largest distance-only institution, and is also led by Athabasca's president. The 13 participating universities, including Quebec's Tele-University and Royal Roads University, already have substantial provision of distance learning and are mainly using the consortium to raise their profiles. The CVU functions as a portal for member universities' provision, and now includes 2,000 courses and 250 degree programmes. A minority of courses are offered completely online, with the rest provided by a variety of modes, including correspondence, television, radio, teleconferencing, and audio tapes. While the CVU has received some funding from the Canadian government to develop its website, the institution is largely self-financed. The majority of its revenue comes from the provision of graduate and professional programmes, with high tuition fees, for example MBAs.
Swiss Virtual University (in English)
The Swiss Virtual Campus (SVC) is supported by the Swiss Federal government and is aiming at improving the quality of the student experience, facilitating collaboration between institutions and generating high quality online materials. The goal is not to create a separate virtual institution, but rather to ensure the genuine integration of online materials and delivery into mainstream undergraduate teaching. With time some online courses may replace face-to-face tuition and thereby become compulsory for students. The Swiss University Conference (a federal organisation with responsibility for higher education funding and quality assurance) was responsible for the first phase of the SVC running from 2000-2003 and also for the subsequent consolidation programme from 2004-2007. In 2003 the SVC has been supported by the federal government with a total of CHF 34 million (almost US$ 27 million). According to the schedule, students should have been able to enrol from 2003, but according to the SVC web site, at the time of writing courses are still being developed.
The Danish Virtual University and Continuing Education at Danish Universities - A Virtual Approach (in Danish)
The Danish Virtual University (DVUNI) was conceived in 2000 as Denmark's response to the e-education boom in the late 1990s. The project, however, was never completed and was quietly wound up following a series of strategic failures. Following a re-think, the new Danish portal for professional development called 'Continuing Education at Danish Universities - A Virtual Approach' was launched in November 2003. The portal was established by the 12 Danish universities and encompasses all the institutions' professional development courses. The initiative is part of wider attempts to establish a closer co-operation between industry and universities, and the idea has been well received by Danish companies. The portal includes traditional campus-based courses as well as online provision (with a mix of programmes in Danish and English). In July 2004 the portal had almost 1,600 courses and 130 programmes leading to a formal qualification.
The Norwegian Open University
The Norwegian Open University (NOU) was established in January 2004 through a merger of the Norwegian Agency for Flexible Learning in Higher Education and The Norwegian University Network for Lifelong Learning. It comes under the Ministry of Education and Research but is managed by representatives from the industry, public and private higher education institutions and student bodies. Its main tasks are to contribute to the development of lifelong and flexible learning within higher education and to strengthen the links between industry and the higher education sector. The University will continue to operate the Norwegian University Network for Lifelong Learning's portal, providing information on professional development courses offered by recognised Norwegian institutions. The use of the NOU site is free, both for those seeking courses and those offering them. The total budget for the NOU is 21 million Norwegian Kroner (approximately US$ 3 million) for 2004.
Université Virtuelle de Tunis (in English and French)
The Université Virtuelle de Tunis (UVT) was established in 2003 as a government initiative and forms the country's tenth public university. The Tunis Virtual University provides open and distance education using multimedia technologies, and is an attempt to co-ordinate ICT in higher education across the country, provide additional student places (public higher education enrolments alone have risen five-fold over the past 15 years), and widen participation. The UVT offers a growing number of its own awards, but is also working with other Tunisian universities to spread good practice in use of ICT for teaching and learning.
Open Universities Australia (in English)
Open Universities Australia (OUA), formerly Open Learning Australia, is owned and operated by a consortium of 7 Australian Universities: Curtin, Griffith, Macquarie, Monash, RMIT, Swinburne and South Australia. The OUA functions as a portal for member universities’ provision, and now includes 700 courses and 60 degree programmes (at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels). Courses have been developed by 18 academic providers, and are offered through a variety of modes including online learning, CD-ROMs, print, radio, videos and audiocassettes. The OUA has no campuses, but a number of learning and study centres have been established to provide computer access and student support.
3 Research and Development focused
National Virtual Universities developed on this model act as research institutes to develop digital content and platforms for their members. They may also have commercial aims working on electronic learning environments and management systems for the private sector.
Finnish Virtual University (in Finnish, English and Swedish)
The Finnish Virtual University was established as a consortium at the beginning of 2001. All 20 national universities and a national college are members of the FVU, which promotes and develops the adoption of ICT in universities, online teaching and learning, the use of information networks in research, compatible administrative practices and the availability of online information resources. Besides providing a portal to online programmes in Finnish universities, the FVU has a Virtual University Development Unit that aims to develop new methods, tools, materials and services for online learning. The FVU will also include various national research projects in online education across a range of disciplines. The Ministry of Education provided 8.4 million Euros (approximately US$ 10.2 million) for the University's activities between 2001-2003. 9 million Euros (approximately US$ 11 million) have been allocated to the FVU in 2004 and it is expected that this arrangement will continue until 2006.
Dutch Digital University (In English)
The Dutch Digital University (DDU) was started in April 2001 and is a consortium of ten universities, managed by a Council of Participants. It focuses on the development and application of digital educational products and knowledge for higher education. The Digital University aims to set up a knowledge network, share expertise and share the financial burden of innovation. Its projects can be divided into four programmes- Digital testing, assessments and digital portfolio, Digital educational tools: tasks and resources, Learning and coaching from a distance: dual, virtual and international, and Building up and distribute expertise. The venture also aims to have some commercial spin-offs, specifically electronic learning environments and management systems that can be resold to the private sector.
4 Industry focused in Partnership with Foreign Providers
Industry Focused models are often run by developing countries keen to improve their economic position and where education is viewed as an important driver for change. In pursuit of a modern market economy and expertise in particular industries, business and IT are often put forward as the key subject areas for development. Rather than focusing on improving existing universities, some countries have created virtual institutions to bring foreign higher education provision in-country.
Syrian Virtual University (in English)
The Syrian Virtual University (SVU) was launched in September 2002 and is aimed at bringing foreign higher education to the country rather than improving existing universities. SVU relies almost entirely on foreign partners and offers courses from 33 US, Canadian, European and Australian universities. Partner institutions include other virtual universities, like the Canadian Virtual University and the US Walden University (now owned by Laureate Education - formally Sylvan Learning Systems), as well as American Ivy League universities Cornell, MIT and Harvard. While degree courses are too expensive for most Syrians (US$ 4,500 to US$ 7,500 per year for a 4-year programme), the Higher National Diploma (US$ 1,600 per year for a 2-year programme) is more accessible, with an option of gaining a bachelor's degree with two more years of study. Accessibility provides another challenge to the uptake of the University's courses, with only two national Internet Service Providers, and 40,000 subscribers in a country with a population of 17 million people. There were 528 students enrolled in SVU courses in 2004, by far the majority of them in undergraduate programmes.
Virtual University of Pakistan (in English)
The Virtual University of Pakistan (VUP) was established in 2001 and is a government (Ministry of IT) led initiative. It focuses specifically on technology degrees and other qualifications. The central rationale is to meet the government's goal to produce enough IT graduates to make the country a major IT centre, like neighbouring India. PVU is relying on an interesting public-private partnership in order to make the university accessible across the country, and to keep costs low. The government operates the university and grants its degrees, and courses are offered in English and Urdu. While there are plans to develop virtual campuses in the capital and Pakistan's four provinces, thus far VUP has relied on numerous private training centres as access points. At present, 143 of these 'private virtual campuses' are in operation across Pakistan. To date, the PVU has relied largely on television as an affordable and accessible way to deliver courses.