USQ helps developing nations through e-Learning

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) will contribute to the alleviation of poverty through the signing of an historic partnership agreement with the Asia Pacific Global Development Learning Network (GDLN).

Under the agreement USQ will support the Asia Pacific GDLN to enhance education, learning and development efforts through their network of Distance Learning Centres in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Timer Leste and Vietnam.

Internationally renowned expert in e-Learning and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Global Learning Services at USQ, Professor Jim Taylor, said the agreement offers the University a direct opportunity to contribute positively to developing nations.

'USQ has a large number of students from the Asia Pacific region studying courses either on campus or by distance and is keen to contribute to the education and learning, and thereby development, in that region.'

Professor Taylor said the agreement was forged through the University’s strong links with the Tokyo Development Learning Centre (TDLC), who are supporting the establishment of the Asia Pacific GDLN with assistance from the World Bank and the Government of Japan.

At present the TDLC plays important role in promoting blended learning for development in the Asia Pacific region, while USQ has expertise in the development and delivery of study materials and programs around the globe.

'Now, as a partnership, we can combine our talents and work together to alleviate poverty in the Asia Pacific region through education, learning and knowledge sharing.'

Jiping Zhang is a Senior Distance Learning Specialist with the TDLC and is currently visiting the USQ Toowoomba Campus to learn more about e-Learning.

Jiping said the TDLC organises learning activities of short videoconference sessions and blended learning courses on a variety of subjects including microfinance, environmental protection and corporate social responsibility. Participants are mainly government officials, development professionals and practitioners and local community leaders.

TDLC also works with other development organizations such as Japan Bank For International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Asia Development Bank Institute (ADBI) through partnership arrangement.

'We know USQ is very good at e-Learning and Professor Taylor is a leader in this field. We want to enrich our learning programs and strengthen our delivery of online courses through working together with USQ.'

Specifically, the Asia Pacific GDLN aims to benefit from the University’s Integrated Content Environment (ICE).

'ICE is a free open source content management system and authoring tool that USQ has developed which is now used extensively within the University,' Professor Taylor said.

Open source or open access is a term commonly applied to information technology and basically means computer software is made available to the general public in a relaxed way, without intellectual property restrictions.

At USQ the ICE system is used to write course packages for the web, learning management systems, book-length print materials and CD-ROM.

In addition to the altruistic motives, the University is also excited about the opportunity the agreement creates in relation to student recruitment.

'With the signing of this agreement, USQ is joining a highly reputable worldwide network through which we will be able to promote our courses, including our Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP), which will be offered for free as open courseware,' said Professor Taylor.

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092