Article advertising the symposium which appeared in Bilkent News 5th May 1998

The Future of the University

The Internet is about to revolutionise education. In doing so, it is likely to force a serious reappraisal of the role of universities within our society and, consequently, may bring about fundamental changes in the way universities function. The reason for these forthcoming upheavals is simple, the Internet will undermine almost every aspect of the traditional campus-based system. The university library, for instance, is the focal point of every academic institution. It is the repository of knowledge that attracts researchers and students to an institution, but with the Internet offering instant access to "digital libraries" and related interest groups anywhere in the world, its central role diminishes. Similarly, expensive classrooms may soon become a relic of a past age as the web delivers educational material directly into the home, on demand. With no walls or schedule to restrict it, the "class" of the future might cater to thousands or even tens of thousands of students. Clearly, teachers will not be immune to the effects of this new technology, for they will need to learn how to manage such large-scale teaching via the web. Moreover, when students can choose to take courses or modules from wherever they wish, only the very best teachers will find jobs. As Tony Rose put it, "Why take all your modules from Anytown College when you can download a combination from Oxford, MIT and the Sorbonne?" It seems, then, that students will benefit most from this newfound technology, but they too will not find things very easy. They will be expected to learn more and to continue to learn independently throughout their careers. They will also have to cope with the rapid changes in job markets and even, perhaps, come to terms with part-time, contract-based employment.

Already, commercial organisations are gearing up to reap the lucrative profits that lifelong Internet-based education and training promises. They are hiring the full-time educators, media and other specialists needed to produce and deliver high quality educational material, which will include interactive simulations and even live and recorded video. They will also offer 24 hour online support to students via email and live audio/video conferencing facilities. Universities might try to compete with them, but they are unlikely to succeed without sacrificing so much of their character that they are no longer recognisable as universities.

So, what will the universities of the future look like? It seems to me that traditional campus-based universities will only survive if they concentrate, not on mass vocational training, but on pure academic research. Since most learners will take the more profitable, short cut career path offered by commercial (or possibly governmental) organisations, university education is likely to change substantially. Freed of the necessity to educate vast numbers of students and now more isolated from the vagaries of the commercial world, campuses might once again become home to communities of thinkers. Formal classes might be replaced by groups, working, discussing, researching and learning together. Learners at all levels (faculty and students) might thus have the time and the opportunity to become more involved and caring.

Undoubtedly, there will be many different viewpoints and opinions on this subject, and I would encourage everyone to think about it and share their ideas. The new horizons being opened up by information technology is just one of the many topics to be discussed at the Second International Distance Education Symposium being held here in Ankara this week. Organised by the (Turkish) Distance Education Foundation (UZEV) and the Ministry of Education's Film, Radio and Television Directorate (FRTEB), it will feature keynote speeches by many world-renowned figures including Sir John Daniel (Vice Chancellor of the UK's Open University), David Jonassen, Michael Moore and Tony Bates. The symposium is open to everyone and entrance is free. Details can be found on posters around the campus and on my web page.

 

David Davenport (Computer Eng. & Info. Science Dept.)