The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Higher education must reinvent itself to meet the needs of the world today. Enter the distributed university

  • Written by Richard F. Heller, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle
Higher education must reinvent itself to meet the needs of the world today. Enter the distributed university

Universities face many threats to their future. The traditional universities have become over-managed business enterprises[1], which may not reflect societal, national or global educational needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many of these issues into focus.

In a new book[2], I propose a model that responds to the broad range of challenges universities face. I call this model the distributed university – that is, a university that distributes education online to where it is needed.

Read more: Amid global crisis, how can universities be regenerated to serve the common good?[3]

In more than 50 years as an academic in Australia and the UK, I have seen the potential for a pivot to online learning that, through distributed learning, could solve many of the problems the higher education sector faces.

I have been involved in online master’s-level programs to build public health capacity in both high-income and low-to-middle-income countries. Face-to-face teaching designed for the International Clinical Epidemiology Network[4] was augmented by distance learning – first paper-based, followed by online. I established the University of Manchester’s first fully online master’s program.

More recently, I founded and co-ordinated the global, fully online, volunteer-led People’s Open Access Education Initiative (Peoples-uni)[5].

Man looking at computer screen with the faces of the many people taking part in an online meeting
The distributed university reflects the way we communicate and learn in today’s world. Shutterstock

Read more: COVID has changed students' needs and expectations. How do universities respond?[6]

What are the problems facing universities?

The pressures on universities are both external and internal.

Externally, universities need to be responsive to the ways people access information today (and will tomorrow). They also need to ensure environmental sustainability. And amid global inequalities in access to higher education, our universities are overly dependent on income from overseas students[7].

Internal developments pose multiple threats too. Universities have downgraded teaching, with academics not rewarded for educational excellence as opposed to research. They have adopted a competitive business model, rather than a collaborative model of education, and intrusive managerial oversight instead of placing trust in academics. And they work in centralised ivory towers rather than engaging with local communities and industries.

Read more: Amid global crisis, how can universities be regenerated to serve the common good?[8]

The distributed university responds to these problems by:

  • reducing global inequalities in access
  • emphasising local relevance
  • reducing impacts on the environment
  • building trust in place of managerialism
  • collaborating rather than competing.

How does the distributed university work?

Cover of book 'The Distributed University'
Springer Link[9] The distributed university I describe in my book (free to read and download) sets up higher education to adapt to the changes in how we work and learn today. Online learning, which must be fit for purpose[10], is central to this as it allows for structural change. Smaller local hubs can largely replace central large campuses, reducing the large carbon footprint created by students and staff travelling to campus. These hubs may be physical or virtual. The distributed university offers education mainly online rather than in lecture halls. Local or regional hubs engage with local communities, industries and other education providers. They encourage practice-based active learning, which can be a hybrid of online and face-to-face. Each of the hubs can be replicated over geography (including internationally) and over time. Learning needs will change over time as careers and interests develop. Central administration is much smaller, but ensures the courses being offered meet societal needs. Intrusive managerialism is replaced by trust in academics – made easier by this structure. It is not generally recognised that online education is much more transparent than face-to-face. All materials, student contact and student-tutor interactions are captured, allowing for unobtrusive quality assurance. Social interaction between students and between academics is offered partly in the hubs but mainly online. This reflects the way we communicate and learn in today’s world. Read more: Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learning?[11] IT support for education and research is vital. It will allow us to respond to future developments in communications and to the changes and challenges of the fourth industrial revolution[12]. The distributed university will be light on the environment. Although online education is IT-heavy and has its own carbon footprint, it’s much smaller[13] – even more so when powered by renewables – than the face-to-face version with buildings and travel. It will thus show leadership in achieving environmental sustainability. This model’s local and regional hubs will also encourage regional development. Our recent research paper[14] highlights the environmental benefits of online education. A group of 128 master’s degree students (mainly from Africa) studied online rather than travel to live and study in the UK. They saved nearly a million kilograms of carbon emissions. Read more: Why universities are starting to re-evaluate their academics' travel[15] Doctor treats a young boy Distributed learning is a proven concept that has helped build public health capacity in Africa. Shutterstock Three new programs COVID has exposed the over-reliance on overseas student fees. This revenue has largely been diverted to support research[16]. The government’s recent international education strategy[17] makes no mention of the role Australia can play in reducing global inequalities in access to education. Read more: Australia's strategy to revive international education is right to aim for more diversity[18] In addition to the benefits described above, a pivot to online education opens up other opportunities. I describe three potential programs: a global online program, a tertiary version of the International Baccalaureate and a “PlanE for Education”. A global online program[19] can create low-cost learning for overseas students. This will help meet current educational needs while providing a bridge to future mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging economies. Research must be properly funded, and not rely on the diversion of income from overseas students paying high fees. To help reduce the destructive emphasis on competition between universities[20], a higher education version of the International Baccalaureate used in schools might be created. This would involve global collaboration between universities, which would reduce competition and standardise quality. Continuing the collaboration theme is a proposal to create “PlanE for Education[21]”. This would be similar to initiatives such as PlanS[22] that require publicly funded research to be published in open access journals or platforms. At least some of the educational resources generated in universities using public money would be made freely available under PlanE. Read more: Making Australian research free for everyone to read sounds ideal. But the Chief Scientist's open-access plan isn't risk-free[23] We live in a digital and distributed world. Universities should too. The notion of a distributed university may help the higher education sector survive, prosper and be sustainable. References^ over-managed business enterprises (www.nteu.org.au)^ new book (link.springer.com)^ Amid global crisis, how can universities be regenerated to serve the common good? (theconversation.com)^ International Clinical Epidemiology Network (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)^ People’s Open Access Education Initiative (Peoples-uni) (www.peoples-uni.org)^ COVID has changed students' needs and expectations. How do universities respond? (theconversation.com)^ overly dependent on income from overseas students (theconversation.com)^ Amid global crisis, how can universities be regenerated to serve the common good? (theconversation.com)^ Springer Link (link.springer.com)^ fit for purpose (theconversation.com)^ Beyond Zoom, Teams and video lectures — what do university students really want from online learning? (theconversation.com)^ fourth industrial revolution (www.weforum.org)^ much smaller (www.emerald.com)^ recent research paper (f1000research.com)^ Why universities are starting to re-evaluate their academics' travel (theconversation.com)^ diverted to support research (theconversation.com)^ recent international education strategy (theconversation.com)^ Australia's strategy to revive international education is right to aim for more diversity (theconversation.com)^ global online program (link.springer.com)^ destructive emphasis on competition between universities (theconversation.com)^ PlanE for Education (link.springer.com)^ initiatives such as PlanS (theconversation.com)^ Making Australian research free for everyone to read sounds ideal. But the Chief Scientist's open-access plan isn't risk-free (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/higher-education-must-reinvent-itself-to-meet-the-needs-of-the-world-today-enter-the-distributed-university-175927

Times Magazine

DIY Is In: How Aussie Parents Are Redefining Birthday Parties

When planning his daughter’s birthday, Rich opted for a DIY approach, inspired by her love for drawing maps and giving clues. Their weekend tradition of hiding treats at home sparked the idea, and with a pirate ship playground already chosen as t...

When Touchscreens Turn Temperamental: What to Do Before You Panic

When your touchscreen starts acting up, ignoring taps, registering phantom touches, or freezing entirely, it can feel like your entire setup is falling apart. Before you rush to replace the device, it’s worth taking a deep breath and exploring what c...

Why Social Media Marketing Matters for Businesses in Australia

Today social media is a big part of daily life. All over Australia people use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn and Twitter to stay connected, share updates and find new ideas. For businesses this means a great chance to reach new customers and...

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Times Features

What Makes Certain Rings or Earrings Timeless Versus Trendy?

Timeless rings and earrings are defined by designs that withstand the test of time, quality craftsmanship, and versatility. Trendy pieces, on the other hand, often stand testimony ...

Italian Street Kitchen: A Nation’s Favourite with Expansion News on Horizon

Successful chef brothers, Enrico and Giulio Marchese, weigh in on their day-to-day at Australian foodie favourite, Italian Street Kitchen - with plans for ‘ambitious expansion’ to ...

What to Expect During a Professional Termite Inspection

Keeping a home safe from termites isn't just about peace of mind—it’s a vital investment in the structure of your property. A professional termite inspection is your first line o...

Booty and the Beasts - The Podcast

Cult TV Show Back with Bite as a Riotous New Podcast  The show that scandalised, shocked and entertained audiences across the country, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, has returned in ...

A Guide to Determining the Right Time for a Switchboard Replacement

At the centre of every property’s electrical system is the switchboard – a component that doesn’t get much attention until problems arise. This essential unit directs electrici...

Après Skrew: Peanut Butter Whiskey Turns Australia’s Winter Parties Upside Down

This August, winter in Australia is about to get a lot nuttier. Skrewball Whiskey, the cult U.S. peanut butter whiskey that’s taken the world by storm, is bringing its bold brand o...