USQ academic presents first international course for Korean university

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Professor David Ross has been invited to develop and present the first international course for Hanyang Cyber University (HYCU) in Korea in March.

Head of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at USQ Professor Ross assisted HYCU with their development in 2001 and delivered the opening address when the university was formally opened in 2002.

In 2008 HYCU is celebrating their first round of graduates and asked Professor Ross to deliver the first international course.
 
'They called and said as I was an international person who gave the opening address in 2002 they thought it would be appropriate I present the first international lecture,' Professor Ross said.
 
'This is the first time they have had someone from another country develop a course and actually teach it. Up until now it has always been local lecturers developing and presenting the material.

'I have developed a course titled 'The Journey of E-learning'.

'The course is across the entire university so it is not restricted to one faculty. The main goal is to help people improve their ability to learn in an e-learning environment.'

As HYCU is an online-only university Professor Ross has developed 13 on-demand interactive video lessons that will be offered to 380 students in English and Korean.
 
'They have a learning management system like we do here at USQ so I access the students through it and they access me the same way.'

Professor Ross was originally contacted by HYCU to assist with their development because of his experience in e-learning at USQ.

'In late 2001 they were looking for universities that had leadership and best practice in e-learning activity. USQ was ahead of the game in online and e-learning. I was doing an enormous amount of working e-learning and was asked to help them get started and assist with their strategic planning.'

The course provides Professor Ross with the opportunity to highlight USQ's e-learning capabilities to an international audience

'A lot of what I will be delivering in the course is about how USQ has continued to develop its capabilities in e-learning and blended learning.'

HYCU won the University of the Year award in 2007 which recognised them as a university of best practice in Korea.

'When HYCU opened they had around 500 students. They now have close to 60,000 students. They have been extremely successful.'

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559