Educating Online in South East Asia:
A workshop for higher education policy makers and practitioners
5 – 7 May 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Australian Government Department of Education and Training is hosting a regional workshop to explore the opportunities for and challenges to online and blended learning in South East Asia.
Invited participants will include Ministry of Education and quality assurance agency officials, university academics and administrators from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia.
The workshop aims to:
- survey the landscape in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Australia, and share information to highlight best practice models for development of online and blended learning across the region
- explore how new technologies can improve learning outcomes for students studying on campus, while also expanding the reach of universities into regional areas and making higher education more feasible for time-poor working adults
- debate key challenges including the quality assurance of online learning offerings, what regulation is required, how to ensure integrity in student assessment and how to introduce e-learning in a cost effective way.
BACKGROUND
Across South East Asia, there is considerable interest in the potential of online higher education, however, its take up to date has been more limited than in Australia.
Some governments in the region are actively encouraging the use of blended and online learning in universities, looking to the benefits it can deliver in improved educational outcomes and extending the reach of education to regional areas. However, there are also significant concerns about quality assurance, regulation, cultural acceptance, infrastructure capacity, and the financial cost of developing online education. These issues are particularly acute for countries with developing education systems and economies.
WORKSHOP PAPER
Coming soon.
PRESENTATIONSROGRAM & PRESENTATIONS
Day 1: Tuesday 5 May - Registration 8.30 am; Programme 9.00 am – 5.00 pm; Reception 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm
Welcome and introductions
- Ms Karen Welsh, Counsellor (Education and Science) Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
- Ms Karen Sandercock, Australian Government Department of Education and Training, Canberra
- Professor Jane den Hollander, Vice-Chancellor and President, Deakin University, Australia
Key issues, challenges and opportunities of online higher education in South East Asia
- Dr Sarah Richardson, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
10.45 – 11.15 Morning tea
Panel 1: Online and blended learning trends and policies in the region
- Indonesia: Professor Dr Paulina Pannen, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Indonesia
- Vietnam: Mr Phan The Hung, Principal Official, Higher Education Department, The Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam
- Thailand: Assistant Professor Dr Anuchai Theeraroungchaisri, Deputy Director, Thailand Cyber University, the Office of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education; and Assistant Professor Dr Denpong Soodpakdee, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Communications, Khon Kaen University, Thailand
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
Exploring practical applications in online learning
- Tensions between best practice e-learning and scalable, cost effective accounting education
- Dr Jacqueline McManus, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- Design of blended learning in higher education courses: Access, equity, ethics and quality matters
- Dr Arkendu Sen, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine; and Dr Fay Patel, Director, Education Management, Monash University, Malaysia
15.30 – 16.00 Afternoon tea
Day 1 Summary and close
Day 2: Wednesday 6 May 9.00 am – 5.00pm
Quality assurance and integrity
10.30 – 11.00 Morning tea
Opportunities and challenges of educating online in South East Asia
Small group discussions and report backs on key issues identified by delegates, for example:
- How can online and blended education assist with your countries’ human resource development/education needs?
- How can we overcome infrastructure challenges for institutions and governments in blended and online learning?
- How can we deal with academic staff development needs for educating online?
- What are the community views of online learning: parents, students, employers?
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
Panel 2: Online and blended learning trends and policies in the region
- Malaysia: Professor Karim Alias, Director, Centre for Development of Academic Excellence Universiti Sains Malaysia
- Australia: Ms Karen Welsh, Counsellor (Education and Science), Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur
15.30 – 16.00 Afternoon tea
Day 2 Summary and close
Day 3: Thursday 7 May (9.00 am – 12 noon)
Final small group discussions
- Reflections on what has been learned
- Where to from here?
- Opportunities for collaboration
Day 3 Summary and close
Enquiries: Karen Welsh, Counsellor, Education, Kuala Lumpur Karen.Welsh@dfat.gov.au