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Presentation at USDLA about the Master of Distance Education international partnership. The lessons learned and the challenges of an international collaboration in higher-education.
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Managing a successful international partnership in Distance Education
Dr. Stella Porto Master of Distance Education Graduate School of Management & Technology University of Maryland University College
Overview
• The partners UMUC Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
• The MDE Past Present
• Managing the partnership Course development Course delivery Student support/services Faculty support/services Research
• The Synergy • Final remarks
Master of Distance Education: partnership
Online enrollment > 177,000
Head count > 86,000
Enrollment > 272,000
2nd largest state institution in the US
> 100 degree programs fully online
Context and landscape Oldenburg
Context and landscape Oldenburg
Context and landscape Oldenburg
Context and landscape Oldenburg
Context and landscape Oldenburg
Context and landscape Oldenburg
The Master of Distance Education: Past
• The creation of the program Natural fit for UMUC: practical leadership in DE translated
into theoretical leadership Historical accident: Two experts with a common project
funded by AT&T grant - “The Virtual Seminar” Seminar delivered online for professional development in DE
The Master of Distance Education: Past
• Advantages of this historical ‘accident’… Quick ‘time to market’ Trust among partners Test bed with a network of experts International dimension Quality beyond regular graduate programs
Visiting experts Research Faculty development
The Master of Distance Education: Present
The Master of Distance Education: Present - Mission
Faculty Support
Instruction Design & Support
Leaders & Managers
Higher Education
Media & technology
Corporate Training & Learning
Distance Education
The Master of Distance Education: Focus
• Core competencies Managing the distance education system in a variety of settings Planning, budgeting, development, delivery, and support of distance
education and distance training programs
• Target Audience Potential managers of the distance education enterprise in:
Educational organizations Corporate / Business Government & Military Non-profit and associations
• Entirely online for part-time working adults • International • Collaborative
The Master of Distance Education Present - Curriculum
Core
DE Foundations: systems view, technology, online teaching & learning, costing and student support
Technology
Leadership Instructional Design
Multimedia Globalization & Development
Advanced Technologies Internet Technologies
Teaching & Training
Instructional Design Library & Copyright
Assessment Multimedia
Distance Training Virtual K-12
Policy & Management
Leadership DE Systems
Library & Copyright Assessment DE Business
Globalization & Development
Capstone : E-portfolio & Research Project
Managing Partnership: Course development
• UMUC DE Technologies Training at a distance DE in K-12 Library and copyright Instructional design Leadership DE systems Business in DE
• Oldenburg Foundations Costing and Budgeting Learner support Multimedia in DE Assessment Globalization and
development
• Oldenburg Foundations Costing and Budgeting Learner support Multimedia in DE Assessment Globalization and
development
• UMUC DE Technologies Training at a distance DE in K-12 Library and copyright Instructional design Leadership DE systems Business in DE
Managing Partnership: Course development
Each partner is responsible for the development of its share of courses, and owns the decisions of staffing the course every time it offered
Managing Partnership: Course delivery
Managing Partnership: Course delivery
UMUC is the responsible partner for all of course delivery functions:
- IT infrastructure & support
- Operational teaching & learning support (other than faculty staffing)
- Digital library & copyright support
Managing Partnership: Student support
Managing Partnership: Student support
UMUC is the responsible partner for all* of student support functions:
- Graduate advising
- Admissions, registering, financial aid…
- Applying for graduation, diplomas & certificates…
- Self services through portal
Managing Partnership: Faculty support
Managing Partnership: Faculty support
UMUC is the responsible partner for all* of faculty support functions:
- Faculty services
- Faculty training
- Faculty assessment
Managing Partnership: Research
The 13 volumes already developed will be soon available in e-book format.
Books are adopted as part of several courses.
Several edited with contributions with many experts in DE
Synergy: International faculty & visiting experts
• Technological infrastructure • Organizational support • Leadership support • Support and training
infrastructure
The Synergy
• Research • Historical involvement in
DE • Network of experts
Communication Diversity
Recognition & Value in DE Quality
Autonomy Faculty development
The Synergy: Community information
The Synergy: Community knowledge
The Synergy: Community building
The Synergy: Faculty Sharing
Final remarks: Challenges & opportunities & must do’s
• Continuous communication • Coordination of functions • Recognition & effective use of cultural differences • Managing and supporting faculty • Effective use of resources • Maintaining dependability and trust • Shared decision making (accepting organizational limitations) • Shared responsibility • Shared values (student-centered mission) • Continuous communication again
Final remarks: Latest and future
• Extension of the collaboration Dual degrees Oldenburg PhD option Partnering with international programs in smaller scale
• Potential greater internationalization of the student body Bologna process
• Greater interest in the partnership at the leadership level • Community building efforts • Student and graduate involvement
