Illustrative case studies on e-learning activities in post-secondary education and training

There is a need to clarify opportunities and risks for institutions seeking to enter the e-learning market in post-secondary education and training. Such an analysis should include the determination and development of an e-learning market niche, an examination of suitable financing models and organisations (what are the costs, benefits and risks for the institution), consideration of the intellectual property right issues, etc.

OECD will conduct a small number of illustrative case studies from the three main regions of the OECD (North America, Europe and Asian Pacific area) to clarify the policies and the institutional, financial and pedagogical issues related to promoting e-learning activities (including cross-border) in post-secondary education and training. These case studies will be based on a common framework/questionnaire.

The OECD/Japan seminar on e-learning in post-secondary education, June 2001, stressed the huge potential of e-learning, but several speakers cautioned that in reality it has proven to be difficult and costly to produce high-quality e-learning courses in post-secondary education and training which can attract a significant number of students and make a profit for their providers.

For further information, see "E-learning in Post-Secondary Education"-Rapporteur's report

The OECD/CERI report E-learning - The Partnership Challenge highlights that the fastest developments in e-learning activities are seen in post-secondary, especially in corporate education and training. The number of cross-border public-private alliances is rising rapidly, to match growing competition in an increasingly global e-learning market. On the other hand, many e-learning activities in post-secondary education and training have failed because they have not accurately taken into account the high initial investments necessary to develop high-quality e-learning products and the need to adapt to the demands of their students/clients.

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