Seizing the opportunity of online learning for UK higher education

The Online Learning Task Force (OLTF) published its final report ‘Collaborate to compete: Seizing the opportunity of online learning for UK higher education‘ in January 2011.

It concluded that online learning – however blended with on- or off-campus interactions, whether delivered in the UK or overseas – provides real opportunity for UK institutions to develop responsive, engaging and interactive provision which, if offered at scale, can deliver quality and cost-effectiveness while meeting student demands for flexible learning.

The report showcases the work of 16 university and consortia courses in the UK including partnerships between HE institutions and the private sector.

It makes six recommendations to institutions and the wider HE sector. They include:

• using online learning to enhance student choice
• realignment training and development
• developing and exploiting open educational resources.

The OLTF was set up to research and investigate how the UK could maintain and extend its position as a world leader in online learning. It was chaired by Dame Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, and met five times between September 2009 and November 2010.