Distance Learning Opportunities & Challenges

Dr. Safia BarikzaiInformatics Department,

Business SchoolLondon South Bank University

June 2014

Contents

IntroductionDr. Safia BarikzaiLondon South Bank UniversityInformatics & Business School

UG & PG CurriculumCollaborations: Teaching, Research and EnterprisePartnerships – the way forward

Distance LearningPerspectivesChallengesOpportunitiesFuture Directions

Dr. Safia Barikzai

Senior Lecturer in InformaticsCourse Director: Business IT(Student) Enterprise Champion

Contact details…..Email: Safia.Barikzai@lsbu.ac.uk

born in Kabul, Afghanistan with International educational experience

Lecturer in Computing, Wollongong University, Australia 2002 - 2005

London South Bank University

-Established over 120 years ago-University status 1992-24000 Full-time & Part-time students

-SE1 Central London Location - close to the business district & government

Currently 4 Faculties- Business - Engineering- Art and Human Sciences- Health and Social Care

Spot light on LSBUhttp://www.youtube.com/user/Londonsouthbankuni

What our students say….http://youtu.be/3QZxS2wBuyM

Business School & Informatics

Business School has four Academic Departments- Informatics- Accounting and

Finance- Business-Management

Informatics• Dr. Kevin Grant (Head of

Informatics)• Putting the I into Business• Information• Invention (Technology)• Innovation (Technology)• I[e]nquiry• Income

Informatics: Value Proposition• Employer endorsed & professional body accredited • Technologists educated to understand, enable and transform

business via technology and innovation applications;• ‘Bridge and ladders’ approach to our curricula design allowing

students to enter at different stages but still achieve the same end point - a career in informatics;• Authentic based assessment, taught by a mix of academic and

commercially aware and active staff from the world of ICT;• Focus on problem based learning enabled by technology;• Focus on Capstone and value adding events ( the last four being

- big data, cloud computing; cyber defence, leadership, etc.);• Leveraging expertise is BI, Strategic IS; Mobile Apps to industry;

• Co-created, use inspired research orientation with practicing informatics managers to add value to the curricula and enterprise activities;• Curricula is informed by the the nexus between theory and practice

of informatics; • Undertake a placement or internship and study aboard• Focus on start your own IT business through the Dept and the

University’s entrepreneurial resources • Practical and pragmatic informatics, with access to over 5000

successful graduates of informatics and a dynamic professional network to tap into;• A shift from just providing a degree to career support via the

Informatics Society

Informatics: Value Proposition

Informatics UG & PG Curriculum

• Offer Undergraduate, Postgraduate and PhD programmes • Over 500+ students• Newly validated courses• More business flavour then traditional Computer Science &

Computer Engineering

Web Links:http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course-finder?query=informatics

Collaborations: Teaching, Research & Enterprise

design

innovation

Business needs

Requirements engineering

User Experience

marketing

enterprise

LSBU & Yasar: Strategic Partnership

Internships &

Placements

Student Enterprise

ERASMUS Mobility Summer in London

Dissertation & consultancy

Identifying common research areas.

- Cyber Security- Social Media- Internet and databases- Business Intelligence

Inspire

Engage

Enable

Up-skill

Start-up

Distance Learning Opportunities & Challenges

Perspectives

Institutional- Brand/reputation- Cost- Implementation- Competitive

advantage- Vendor/Open- Infrastructure

Academic- Time/resources- Training- Flexibility- Burden- Mobility- Value adding

Challenges: People, Process, Products

Opportunities

Mobility- Enables pick n mix- Global reach, local impact

Openness- Enables partnerships- Sharing resources- Collaborative in

nature

Flexibility- Credit transfers- Cost saving- Education for all

What is achievable now?

• VLEs, MLEs• Gradual shift in culture

• Mix-mode course delivery• Credit transfers• Semester abroad

Flipped Learning- What is flipped learning?- Examples of best practice

MOOCs - Massive Open Online Courses • MOOCs offer universities the opportunity to diversify the curriculum

and explore alternative learning techniques but how much potential do MOOCs actually possess?

• And are they a threat to the traditional University?

• Is there financial support available to Universities?

MOOCs - the future?