Why is education relevant? Presentation to Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen

The globalized world asks for creative, critical thinkers with collaborative skills, the ability to communicate cross-culturally using ICT and an intrinsic motivation for dynamic, life- long learning. performativity and self direction currency in information, so employers and employees turn to lifelong learning to enhance their employability and profitability

Online Students in the GEDS-GEO pilot course 2003 Global courses: International cooperation on curriculum development International recruitment International tutor pool Gives a rich learning environment

Two main factors have led to an explosion of interest in distance learning: the growing need for continual skills upgrading and retraining; and the technological advances that have made it possible to teach more and more subjects at a distance (UNESCO 2002:3).

Sustainable Development Issues

A global network of participating Universities and United Nations University (UNU) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) UNEP/GRID-Arendal GVU Partnership strategy

How is GVU e-learning conducted? Combines online learning with face to face seminars Decentralised content development in collaboration with partner universities. Participation via Learning Management System (LMS). Students work online supported by tutors.

The GVU student and tutor part of global network of practitioners The GVU partner network The virtual classroom

GVU support services –Course development –Learning resource development –Student support system including tutor training and support –Pedagogy for e-learning –Marketing and catalogue –Infrastructure support (AFUNET) –Finance / bursaries (focus on students from developing countries)

The GVU programs

Why is education relevant? Fisheries and costal zones are global issues. –Fish knows no borders –Marine resourses invite to conflicts Education can promote global understanding. –Global collaboration in virtual classroom –Creation of international communities of practice with Life Long Learning –Part of UN

GVU comparative advantages Quality enhancement system GVU: increased capacity and quality in the individual universities Technical solutions that bridge the Digital Divide Co-development of online courses and e-learning pedagogy between institutions of the North and South. Provision of UN environmental information International diploma Standardization according to Bologna process Worldwide delivery of online courses Pedagogy developed for online learning Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) Student support program