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education links Online Learning in a Borderless MarketProceedings of a conference Conference backgroundMr Michael Gallagher An important part of DETYA’s work in advising government is remaining abreast of developments in the education sector. This is neither a simple nor finite task, particularly in an era punctuated by rapid change and continuous challenge. As part of Higher Education Division’s ongoing efforts to remain at the leading edge of knowledge about the sector, we regularly commission various projects under the Evaluation and Investigations Programme. This conference was one such project and represents a thematic continuation from a series of commissioned papers such as New Media and Borderless Education, The Business of Borderless Education and University Adaptation to the Modern Environment exploring the multitude of challenges, issues and opportunities facing contemporary universities. The pivotal topic addressed by this conference is the growth and impact of online learning. As is often the case with new growth sectors, online learning has been fertilised with generous doses of hyperbole. Wired and Fast Company enthusiasts would have us believe that online learning is the apocalypse for the university as we know it, with the destruction of the academy to be delivered by the four horsemen of the Internet, media-led conglomerates, corporate providers and the virtual university. At the core of this hyperbole, however, are some key issues confronting those involved in the production, delivery and administration of higher education. The commodification and massification of knowledge, application and development of new pedagogies, the purpose and structure of a degree, entrance of non-traditional providers into the tertiary education marketplace as well as the impact of new technologies on academic culture are all matters of crucial import linked—directly or indirectly—to the growth of online learning. The purpose of this conference was to provide a focused forum for key decision makers in the sector to engage these issues by debating the contributions of leading thinkers and practitioners. It is certainly apparent when we look at various universities (both within and beyond Australia) that there are already diverse and divergent viewpoints on many of these issues. A number of these views were vigorously contested over the two days of this conference and those participating took away a greater understanding of the many issues arising from online learning as well as an enhanced knowledge of the various sectoral approaches for engaging with it.
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