E-learning as a Strategic Imperative for Universities in Ireland – A Symposium

4 November 2004

Dublin City University

Universities Ireland held a symposium entitled ‘E-learning as a Strategic Imperative for Irish Universities’ in Dublin City University (DCU) on Thursday 4 November 2004. The symposium addressed the lessons of the recent international experience of e-learning in higher education and identified strategic opportunities for Irish higher education institutions, North and South, in the use of e-learning.

The attendees, from the higher education, government and business sectors, heared from two leading international authorities in this area – Dr Andy DiPaolo, Executive Director of Stanford University’s Centre for Professional Development, and Professor Diana Laurillard, Head of the E-Learning Strategy Unit in the UK’s Department for Employment and Skills. The symposium also included two policy workshops and a panel of current e-learning practitioners in Irish universities, North and South. It was opened by the President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, and closed by the chair of Universities Ireland, Professor Gerry McKenna of the University of Ulster.

Universities Ireland is the new body which links the nine universities on the island of Ireland with the Centre for Cross Border Studies acting as its secretariat.

PROGRAMME

10.00 am	Registration
10.20	Official opening by Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, President, Dublin City University
10.30	Choices and Challenges: Lessons Learned in the Evolution of Online Education Dr Andy DiPaolo, Executive Director, Stanford Centre for Professional Development, Stanford University, USA Chair: Professor von Prondzynski	[1.4mb]
11.10	Refreshments
11.35	A Higher Education Framework for a Unified eLearning Strategy Professor Diana Laurillard, Head of the eLearning Strategy Unit, Department for Employment and Skills, UK Chair: Professor Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor,Queen’s University, Belfast	[761 kb]
12.15 pm	Two workshops: a. The strategic management of eLearning by universities in Ireland b. The strategic use of eLearning in learning and teaching by universities in Ireland
1.15	Lunch
2.15	Two workshops repeated (so that participants can go to both workshops)
3.15	Panel discussion with the keynote speakers and eLearning specialists from four Irish universities: Professor Clive Mulholland, University of Ulster Ms Maria Lee, Queen’s University Belfast Dr Vincent Wade, Trinity College Dublin Dr Barry McMullin, Dublin City University Chair: Professor John Hegarty, Provost, University of Dublin, Trinity College
4.15	Closing remarks by Professor Gerry McKenna,Chairman, Universities Ireland, and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ulster

See the list of attendees [116 kb] and the programme / briefing paper [2.25 mb].