USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Using Cutting-Edge Telecommunications for distance education: the case of the USPNet
at the University of the South Pacific
Professor Rajesh Chandra
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Chairman, Distance and Flexible Learning Committee
Chairman, Communications and Information Technology Committee
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Outline of the Presentation ICT and Education: the fundamental role
of ICT and education in the creation and enhancement of the knowledge economy/society--general remarks
USP at a glance Distance education at USP USPNet: using cutting edge technologies Current limitations and future plans
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP ICT and Education
ICT has both tremendous potential to help the education sector as well as needing the education sector for its growth and development
The Pacific islands lag behind the more progressive developing countries in applying ICT to education and health, and generally in making their economies more productive and competitive
The Ministers of Telecommunications adopted a Regional ICT Policy and Action Plan in April this year (2002)
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPICT and Education-Continued
This policy framework provides a good basis for urgent national action in the ICT area
(e.g. liberalizing the telecommunications sector and creating national ICT infrastructure)
USP is making a major effort to ensure that it remains at the forefront of ICT both in terms of teaching related to it, and in making the best use of ICT in its teaching and other functions
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPThe proposed ICT Centre at USP
To improve its services to the Region and help in its leadership of ICT, the Fiji Government has submitted a regional proposal to the Government of Japan for a major ICT Centre at USP. Preliminary indications are positive and we anticipate that this project will be the highlight of the proposed PALM 2003.
USP represents the largest and most sophisticated ICT system in the South Pacific: useful ICT demonstrator for the Region
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPThe University of the South Pacific
Serving the
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USP at a GlanceUSP at a Glance
Regional university for 12 countries Established in 1968 Covers area of 33 million km2
Great pressure to meet urgent human resource development needs
Produces over 1,600 graduates per annum
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPUSP at a Glance--Continued
14,383 students, 51 percent are females Student growth at about 10 percent per
annum Great pressure to ensure increased access
to education Sensitivity to location/decentralization--
importance of distance education/internet/broadcast of lectures
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USP ICT 1600 PCs 1200 PCs connected to the network 40,000 email messages a day 5 km of fibre on Laucala and 2 km at Emalus
and Alafua Private network that links 12 countries over an
area of about 33 million square kms USP is the best demonstration for the region of
what can be done with ICT and how to do it
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP Distance Education at USP
We now come to the third part--distance education Distance education was seen as important from the
beginning: “The University should have an Extra-mural Department to enable it to carry university studies to towns and villages through the Region, and to promote understanding of and affection for the University in the people of distant places” (Morris Report, 1966: 48).
UGC has put great emphasis on distance and flexible learning and teaching and its improvement
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Enrolment by on-campus, distance and total number of students, 1968-2002
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
2002 200098 96 94 92 90 88 86 84 82 80 78 76 74 72 70 68
Year
Number
External
Internal
Total
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPDistance Education at a Glance
8728 students, or 61 percent of the total number of students (14383) study by distance
Programmes offered by distance include continuing education certificates, Certificate in Foundation Studies, Certificates in almost all the subject areas across the five schools
Diplomas, and degree programmes, such as BEd, BA (various majors and minors), BSc (some courses only), LLB (all courses upto year 2 are available but in the next three years, the entire degree will be available
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Selected Master courses More equitable since participation by females
higher: 57 percent and share of students from countries other than Fiji is higher than for on-campus students (23 and 32 percent respectively)
Fees have been kept low: currently 53 percent of on-campus fees; projected to reach the same level in 2010.
Distance Education at a Glance
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPDistance Education at a Glance
Distance education is provided via three campuses and 14 University Centres, some of which are expected to be declared campuses in the near future
Distance education is being transformed in terms of its organization and delivery options
Mainstreaming distance and flexible learning and teaching: strengthening the one-university, one system approach
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USPNet was inauguratedin March 2000 by HE the then
Vice-President of Fiji
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
A private educational telecommunications system based on a VSAT system owned and operated by the USP through educational licences from member countries
Integrates all technologies: satellite, PCs, high speed document readers, telephones, faxes, advanced control software, and various e-learning software such Web-CT
What is USPNet?What is USPNet?
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USPNet
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPThe USPNet hub-Laucala campusThe USPNet hub-Laucala campus
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
What Does USPNet Do?It allows the University to support
distance and flexible learning and teaching by enabling 4 video broadcasts of lectures at any one time--can reduce duplication and make available courses quickly
It allows reliable audio and videoconference tutorials for students
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Lecture Broadcast(Campuses Only)
Received at all Locations
1 2 3 4
Video ChannelsUSPNet Operation - Video
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USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
USPNet Allows: Student Internet access: general access, can also
do Internet courses Intranet access, with access to on-line resources Distributed learning resources: the digitization project Greater student interaction: on-line platforms
allowing for discussion groups, emails, and chats Data to be transmitted to support teaching,
research and administration Telephony and faxes to be integrated
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Breaking the Ultimate Tyranny of Distance Problem of assignment turn-around: airline
schedules Experimentation with electronic transmission of
assignment and returns Electronic transmission and local printing of
some course materials when Centres run short Logging of turn-around times of assignments
and the quality of responses to student work
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPUSPNet Operation
- 64kbps Circuits
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Designed to support a major shift at USP towards distance and flexible learning
Strengthens the regional integrity of the USP:
• It supports all member countries with a common platform and capacity
• Allows Emalus and Alafua Pro VCs and Heads of School to take part in management meetings without having to come to the Laucala campus
USPNet as a Symbol of Transformation
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPLimitations and Future Plans
Bandwidth Problems USPNet bandwidth and internet bandwidth USPNet bandwidth already stretched, but some
expansion will be relatively cheap Internet bandwidth is the bottleneck--was 128
kbps in 2000, doubled in early 2001, now 512 kbps
To put in perspective, individuals often have 64 kbps accounts--try to imagine all USP staff and many students sharing 512 kbps!
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPBandwidth Problems (Continued)
During the day, speeds come down considerably
The cost factor--at least five times that of Australia
The expansion of internet bandwidth is crucial
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP
Major limitation of USPNet is that it stops at the Centre
New phase of USPNet development must address this
Some experimentation is underway
Going Beyond the Centres
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USP Upgrading USPNet
Conversion to a full IP platform From hierarchy to a flatter structure Dealing with political risk: Emalus and Alafua
as possible alternative locations for operations in times of difficulty
General increase in the efficiency of the USPNet
From narrow-band to broadband Staff development is crucial
USPNet: Transforming teaching and learning at the USPLinking With Other Networks
USP is exploring the idea that USPNet can be linked with other similar networks to improve the range of services to member countries, so is talking with the World Bank about its Global Development Learning Network
Talking with AusAID about the Virtual Colombo Plan and GDLN
Talking with Japan about J-Net