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Learning International Networks Consortium (LINC). The Fifth International LINC Conference May 23 – 26, 2010 University Leadership: Bringing Technology-Enabled Education to Learners of All Ages The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts USA.
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Learning International Networks Consortium (LINC) The Fifth International LINC Conference May 23 – 26, 2010 University Leadership: Bringing Technology-Enabled Education to Learners of All Ages The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
The Online Life-Learner: Rethinking the Social Role of Universities in Distance Education Dr. Silvia Florea Dr. Constantin Oprean Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Romania
Career choice and educational paths in former Eastern Block-before 1898 • "the governmental regimentation of access to the highest school track“ (Pinquart et al, 2004) • Ideological objectives of Adult education (AE) prior to 1989 • graduates to enroll into the highest educational track (1970s, 1980s) • Romania, 8% • East Germany, 8% • West Germany, 23% • Soviet Union, 18% 1950s – 80%
Occupational choices • allocated slots based on predicted demand for occupations • career choice and decisions , age 14-16 • state-coordinated distribution system
Advantages • no gender stereotypes of career choice(Whitmarsh & Ritter, 2007) • filling up of predicted demand for occupations • free access to health care and education • guaranteed employment and pension system • protection security
The New Era • New paradigm shift in learning • New expansion of adult education and continuing professional education • Newly emerging requirements in the labor market and different connotations of job profiles • Accelerated shift from former education institutions and processes toward diverse learning opportunities • BUT huge gaps between learners of different age groups
Graduates in mathematics, sciences and technologies • 2000-2006annual growth rate was 5.5%, (1,1 percentage points above the European average rate) (According to the Preliminary report of the European Commission in 2008 regarding education and training progress) • 2003/2004annual growth rate represented 24.4% of the total number of Romanian graduates, which ranked Romania higher than Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia and even well above the EU average rate, 24.1% (Eurostat 2005).
Increasing Use of Learning Technologies in Romania e-learning modern programs distance Education Departments • Distance Education in A Historical Context state initiatives in Eastern Europe
The Open Distance Learning Department at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
MySeLF Application • http://didu.ulbsibiu.ro/ • http://didu.ulbsibiu.ro/aplicatie/prezentare/index.html
Learning in distance education programs • Disadvantages: lack of face-to-face interaction, geographical remoteness, quality of program • New component: periodical staff mobility to distance education centers in combination with online courses and assistance
Social role of universities with long distance programs • socialization process • students’ expectations for a different, newly established relationship with the college • current desires for stripped-down version of higher education minus the plethora of electives and student activities, a more adult-oriented, for-profit educational and territorial variant • local capacity to formulate learning demands and entrepreneurial projects • the ability of universities to mobilize knowledge and competencies at medium and long distance
NIS forecast on Romanian Labour Resources by 2025 Source: INS data
Overall impact • in the academic year 2006-2007, Romania’s long distance education students numbered 177, 204 (about 43,000 students more than in 2005 and 18 times more than in 1999) (NIS 2008) • huge regional impact: Sibiu is situated in the Central Region of the country (Transylvania), area: 34 100 square km, 14,3 % of Romanian territory 5place among 8 development regions • the region’s population is 2,5 mil people, out of which cca 60% are located in the urban area • the age population structure indicates 15,7% (0-15) 66% (15 -59) 18,3% (over 60) • since 1998, LBUS has trained well over 30,000 distance education graduates (2/3 have reportedly found jobs in the first two years following graduation)
End of presentation Thank you