The Changing the Face of Higher Education through Digital Technologies: A Case Study.

Universities are faced with major challenges in a time of socio-economic and technological growth and change. In the past, universities have offered predominantly an educational service for the small elite, but now they are facing the demand to provide for a more mass higher education to meet the needs of the growing knowledge-based economies. Internal and external pressures on universities are creating opportunities for changes to occur as a whole and in learning and teaching, in particular. Based on a synthesis of research and experience with the increased role of technology, the following pressures are highlighted: • Demand for more higher education places • The need to seek alternatives to government funding • A trend for higher education to seek partnerships with external corporate bodies • A larger clientele of learners with diverse needs, from varied backgrounds, with different motivations, capabilities, learning preferences, time availability and course content requirements • A demand to offer courses that are more learner responsive • A demand to offer courses that are more employer responsive • A demand for more blended, open and flexible courses • A demand to use new and emerging technological opportunities • The use of digital technologies in learning and teaching and resultant changes in teaching and support staff roles and practices • Globalization of higher education and escalating pressures on academic staff • New opportunities brought on by research into learning with technology This paper examines how one university is meeting these challenges.