DUBLIN
City University has announced that over 80 per cent of its programmes will be
available on the internet by 2015 as part of a major shift to online education.
The
Northside university has also signed an agreement with Google to provide a
number of first year students with free Chromebook laptops which run the
internet giant’s cloud-based software suite.
The
deal will make DCU the first higher education institution in Europe to adopt
the devices.
Staff
at DCU are currently undergoing specialised training in preparation of more
courses moving online. Over 100 have already completed the training and 200
more will be ready by 2015.
The
university also has plans to collaborate more on teaching and learning initiatives
with universities in India, China and the US through online tutorials, virtual
classrooms and shared best practice between students and academics.
An
additional 15 new undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will be available
either online or blended (combination of online and face-to-face) during the
academic year 2012/13 and as many as 80 per cent of courses will be either
partially or wholly internet based by 2015.
Speaking
following the announcement DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith, said all
education will have a significant online dimension in the future.
“This
future is all about
‘blended learning’, and this means a flexible combination
of online interactions and face-to-face learning,
? he said.
“This
approach will enhance not only choices and flexibility but also the quality of
the learning experience.
“The
way students learn and the way we teach is changing rapidly and we need to
develop solutions that take into account how people access information today
and how they share knowledge.
“Everyone
should be offered every opportunity for a good education and location and time
should no longer be inhibiting factors. This online approach will facilitate
learning at any time and any place.
“We
are delighted with the support offered by Google and look forward to seeing how
the trial with first year students develops and how our relationship with
Google can continue.
?
Head
of Google Education for EMEA, William Florance, said the company was delighted
with its arrangement with DCU as it fitted in with its online philosophy.
“At
Google we believe most innovation will happen on the web and technology should
be an enabler rather than a burden to students or IT teams,
? she continued.
“Today,
most young people work and interact online. What they need is a simple, fast
and secure way to access the web, wherever they want and whenever they want.
“Our
commitment to this 100 per cent web philosophy has led us to develop a product
that is built and optimised for online. We are delighted to see DCU sharing this
vision and deploying Chromebooks for their students, fully realising the
benefits cloud services bring to education.
?
DCU
said its commitment to online education was likely to further increase its
popularity and enhance its position as a leading, dynamic university in Ireland
and overseas.