Virtual learning to be major part of European higher education as universities battle cuts, experts find
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23 August 2010 | Published by Ovum
Press release
23 August 2010
Virtual learning to be major part of European higher education as universities battle cuts, experts find
Universities will become heavily reliant on virtual learning environments (VLEs) due to increasing economic pressures from the global economic crisis, according to Ovum.
The independent technology analyst believes e-learning, which has previously acted as an add on service rather than a standalone, will become a major part of higher education.
According to Ovum, the recent economic downturn has threatened the current structure of higher education.
In a new report* Ovum states that in today’s academic environment, solely using the traditional lecture is no longer viable and to compete globally, universities need to look to distance and e-learning.
Jessica Tsai, report author and Ovum education technology analyst, said: “Universities are coming under increasing pressure to spend their money wisely, or face losing funding.
“They have the dilemma of providing quality education, increasing student enrollments and competing globally, but on a much smaller budget. If universities continue with the traditional model, it’s inevitable that quality will suffer.
“As economic pressures increase, utilising VLEs will become more critical to universities, if they are to meet any of their objectives.”
Ovum believes that slashing salaries and reducing head counts will simply not be enough to tackle education cuts by the new coalition government, predicted by some to be 25 per cent of current budgets.
Jessica continued: “Higher education establishments wave been warned to expect £1.4 billion in cuts over the next three years. In light of this, without using VLEs, we believe that it will be impossible for them to overcome challenges in the long-term.
“There are wide-ranging benefits to the VLE, but as yet, few universities have ventured beyond the basics such as uploading course materials and posting grades. However, that is all set to change radically and universities will have to rely on VLEs more as a way of providing teaching, or face seeing their standards slip.”
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About Ovum
Ovum provides clients with independent and objective analysis that enables them to make better business and technology decisions. Our research draws upon over 400,000 interviews a year with business and technology, telecoms and sourcing decision-makers, giving Ovum and our clients unparalleled insight not only into business requirements but also the technology that organisations must support.
About Datamonitor
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