The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth: What is it for? How is it doing? Where is it going?

Abstract

PCF5: Cross-Cutting Theme // The proposal for the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) that was presented to Ministers in 2003 (COL, 2003) contained the following statement: ‘The vision that emerged for a virtual university serving small states was one of a consortium of institutions, enabled by appropriate ICT applications, working together in practical ways to plan programmes, develop the required content and ensure the delivery of those programmes and support services to learners.’ It also included the sentence: ‘The virtual university will be as much concerned with adding value to conventional on-campus instruction as it is with serving learners at a distance.’ And it also noted that a virtual university could benefit small states by: ‘Providing accreditation systems to develop quality standards and ensure that they are met’. The overriding objective for the VUSSC that emerges from the original proposal to ministers is that it should help institutions in the small states to serve learners better. // Paper ID 514