Abstract
In distance education teachers and students do not have classroom contact, but the education is mainly delivered through distance media. This dependency on technology makes these institutes extremely sensible for changes in technologies: from time to time fundamental shifts in the business model are needed in order to maintain the quality of their offering. In this chapter a case study is presented of a business model change of the Open University of the Netherlands in the period 2008–2013. The triggers for change and the new business model are presented. The implementation of the business model is discussed in terms of adaptations in course development (including the use of Open Educational Resources), course delivery, ICT infrastructure, and a revised model for the implementation of innovations.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Berkhout, A. (2000). The dynamic role of knowledge in innovation. An Integrated Framework of Cyclic Networks for the Assessment of Technological Change and Sustainable Growth. Retrieved from http://www.lavoisier.fr/livre/notice.asp?ouvrage=2426582.
Hermans, H., Wigman, M., & Berlanga, A. (2011). Welke technologie is behulpzaam voor een leernetwerk? [Which technology can help in a learning network?] Leernetwerken. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-313-8921-6_5.
Hermans, H., Kalz, M., & Koper, R. (2014). Towards a learner-centred system for adult learning. Campus-Wide Information Systems, 31(1), 2–13.
Janssen, J. (2010). Paving the Way for Lifelong Learning. Facilitating competence development through a learning path specification. Dissertation. Retrieved from http://lnx-hrl-075v.web.pwo.ou.nl/handle/1820/2750.
Janssen, J., Berlanga, A., Vogten, H., & Koper, R. (2008). Towards a learning path specification. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life Long Learning, 18(1), 77–97.
Kearsley, G. (2013). Management of online programs. In M. Moore (Ed.), Distance Education (Third ed., pp. 424–436). New York: Routledge.
Kester, L., Van Rosmalen, P., Sloep, P., Brouns, F., Koné, M., & Koper, R. (2007). Matchmaking in learning networks: Bringing learners together for knowledge sharing. Interactive Learning Environments, 15(2), 117–126.
Koper, R. (Ed.). (2009). Learning network services for professional development. Berlin: Springer.
Koper, R., & Specht, M. (2006). Ten-competence: Life-long competence development and learning. In M-A. Cicilia (Ed.), Competencies in organizational e-learning: Concepts and tools (pp. 234–252). Hershey: IGI-Global.
Nadolski, R. J., Hummel, H. G., Van Den Brink, H. J., Hoefakker, R. E., Slootmaker, A., Kurvers, H. J., et al. (2008). EMERGO: A methodology and toolkit for developing serious games in higher education. Simulation & Gaming, 39(3), 338–352.
Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation–a handbook for visionaires, game changers, and challengers. New York: Wiley.
Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Schuwer, R., & Mulder, F. (2009). OpenER, a Dutch initiative in open educational resources. Open Learning, 24(1), 67–76.
Schwaber, K. (2011). The enterprise and scrum. Sebastopol: O’Reilly Media.
Van den Boom, G. (2008). Door het oog van de student. [Through the eyes of the student.] Open Universiteit. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1820/1919.
Van Rosmalen, P., Sloep, P. B., Brouns, F., Kester, L., Berlanga, A., Bitter, M., et al. (2008). A model for online learner support based on selecting appropriate peer tutors. Journal of Computer Assisted learning, 24(6), 483–493.
Verstappen, I. (2013). Rapportage evaluatie website OpenU [evaluation report OpenU]. Open Universiteit. Retrieved from http://portal.ou.nl/documents/386429/0/Rapportage+evaluatie+website+OpenU_mei+2013.pdf.
Acknowledgments
In a process described in this chapter, many people at OUNL were involved. Without mentioning any specific names I especially want to acknowledge the contribution of the OpenU team, including the teams at the Infomatics faculty and the Master Program in the Educational Sciences; furthermore the Board of Directors of OUNL and my fellow Deans in the faculties.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Koper, E.J.R. (2014). Changing the Business Model of a Distance Teaching University. In: Huang, R., Kinshuk, ., Price, J. (eds) ICT in Education in Global Context. Lecture Notes in Educational Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43927-2_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43927-2_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-43926-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-43927-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)