LEARN

Learning Environments And Research Network

British Council Seminar

1. Introduction
2. Seminar themes
   1. Borderless Education: the challenges, opportunities and responses
   2. Distance learning / Blended learning for workplace skills
   3. Recognition and Quality in distance education
   4. Distance Education and Continuous Professional Development
   5. Supporting remote learners
   6. Participants' presentations
   7. Concluding comments

1. Introduction
   
   

This seminar was designed to debate some of the issues facing post school education in a world here the demand for education is rising and the means of providing that education are becoming increasingly complex. Educational systems worldwide are facing increasing challenges as they respond to demands for more inclusive, flexible and diverse types of learning opportunities, which will support their societies' need for lifelong education. Distance learning is playing an evermore important role enabling response to these demands. This interactive seminar was seen as an opportunity to examine the role of supported Open and Distance Education in the mainstream of post school education in the UK. It explored issues of recognition and quality enhancement related to distance education, as well as the contribution distance learning might make to higher, vocational and continuing professional development (CPD) within a context of growing Borderless Education.

The speakers at the seminar represented a wide range of UK developments in supported Open and Distance Education, and produced some very thought provoking presentations. They are listed in the themes to which they contributed. The participants represented countries in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. On the basis of the information they supplied about themselves, the seminar seemed very appropriate for the participants' roles. Initial feedback indicates that all the participants found the range of issues covered gave them something of value for their own contexts.