ED401: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

GROUP PRESENTATION

Changing Trends in Higher Education and their Implications

Group Members: Ronil Prasad, Ebwa Mwakae, Bauro Tewareka and

Takuia Uakeia

4/2/2015

Presentation Outline

• Abstract• Changing Trends in Higher

Education globally and regionally in the Pacific

• Causes, Effects and Issues• Implications• References

Abstract

In this 21st Century, universities around the world are no longeroperate the way they were several decades ago. The changes inhigher education operational strategies, governance structure, leadership and administration style, recruitment of academic staffand students, designing and delivery of programs just but to namea few, are reflections of the trends which higher education arefacing . The impact of the change trends’ forces and expectationscan continuously pressure universities to work more proactivelyand strategically to the rising demands that either fit or not intheir expected roles as research and teaching entities. Therefore,the aim of this presentation is to briefly analyse the changingtrends higher education are experiencing globally and regionallyand then discuss implications on individual group member’s owncourses.

Changing Trends in Higher Education, globally and regionallyTrend 1: Globalisation

&Internationalisation • International connection and integration of countries through economic trade, fast transportation means,

flow of technology and accepting other people’s values has enabled

open access and the acceptance of a variety of students from differentcountries to do studies at universities world wide.

Changing Trends in Higher Education, globally and regionallyTrend 2: Open and Distance Learning• The introduction of ODL has embraced by higher

education as a way of attracting international students and enabling the less privilege to get access to universities. It also promotes branding and specialty of universities at international market

• Worldwide growthand demand access tohigher education hasenabled universitiesto consider also offering courses through ODL

Changing Trends in Higher Education, globally and regionallyTrend 3: Increasing Information and

Communication Technology Access• The introduction of the internet and the use of

moodle and other learning softwares had enabled students who cannot physically access higher education to do higher studies online. • Today more sophisticated ICT softwares are used by universities to help in the delivery of their programs world wide. It can make learning both exciting and challenging too.

Changing Trends in Higher Education, globally and regionallyTrend 4: Quality, Accountability &

Qualification Frameworks

• Students’ accessibility to higher education from around the globe had posed critical questions some of which are related to: 1. the provision of best knowledge and skills required for and by students,

• 2.who is going to be answerable to the provision of qualifications and ,

• 3.what frameworks should be form the basis in learning a particular program.

All these come down to the quest for ethical practices and social advancement of humans.

Changing Trends in Higher Education, globally and regionallyTrend 5: Demand of 21st Century’s Knowledge and

Skills, and Curricula and Pedagogical Reforms

• With the increase demand of students to possess the 21st Century knowledge and skills in areas such as: critical thinking, communication skills, ICT literacy, team work and others, pedagogical strategies in higher education are improving through the use of ICT tools to produce students with necessary knowledge and skills of the 21st Century.

• The use of ICT tools to enhance learning and knowledge creation is now at the forefront of tertiary teaching either when delivering programs at the face to face, the blended or the full online mode.

• The demand for a timely exit of students with the necessary knowledge and skills is a related issue.

ICT Samples of Global and Regional changing trends in Higher Education

REGIONAL

GLOBAL

ONLINE ASSESSMENT

MOODLE

BLENDED LEARNING

COMMUNITY ONLINE LEARNING FORUM

Causes, Effects and Issues

Causes• Increased students’ demand & Rise of Knowledge

Economy• Competitiveness• ICT tools and soft-wares

Effects• Rise of Private Institutions• Movements of Academics & Students• Rise in students’ fees

Issues• Monitoring & Regulation• Accountability & Qualification Framework• Ethical system

Implications

Some Suggestions• Become ICT literate (use of internet and other

learning software for higher education)• Abreast with knowledge about e-learning• Make an initiative to take University of the South

Pacific staffs’ moodle course• Start to shift to practise using a ‘flip classroom’

mode when delivering a course• Involve with someone to co-ordinate an online

course• Start to individually deliver a course using a

blended or full online mode• Continue to abreast with online learning software

to improve curricula design and course delivery

References

Altbach, Philip G., and Jane Knight, “The Internationalization of Higher Education: Motivations and Realities. Journal of Studies in International Education 11(2007): 290

Australian Department of Edication, Employment and Workplace Relations.”The Development and State of the Art of Adult Learning and Education: National Report of Australia”. 2008. UNESCO Intitute for Lifelong Learning webite :http://www.nesco.org/uil/en/UILPDF/nesico/confintea/Australia.pdf

Evans, Terry., Margaret Haughey., and David Murphhy. eds. International Handbook of Distance Education. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2008.

Evans, Terry., Margaret Haughey., and David Murphhy. “Introduction: From Correspondence to Virtual Learning Environments. “In Evans et.al, International Handbook of Distance Education, 1-24.

The Commonwealth of Learning. “An Introduction to Open and Distance Learning.”2000,http://www.col.org/colweb/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/docs/ODL Intro.pdf

Trends in Global Higher Education: Tracking an Academic Revolution, A report prepared for the UNESCO 2009 World Conference on Higher Education. website:http://www.emeuropeasia.org/upload/EMECW11/Conf_David_Stockley_Global_Trends.pdf