1. The Unisa Cambridge Conference in Open, Distance and e-Learning 2013 Change and Continuity The Role of Regional Networks in Online and Distance Learning Anne Gaskell and Roger Mills

2. OUTLINE Change and continuity Distributed systems in distance education Regional centres and their function Change in organisations with regional and local structures A case study of change and continuity in the Open University UK Issues for discussion

3. CHANGE AND CONTINUITY EVOLUTIONARY – natural selection Gradual Cataclysmic Punctuated Direction of change – trends can be reversed

4. www.cals.ncsu.edu

5. Distributed systems in distance education Never established e.g University of Phoenix, University of London Established but abandoned early e.g Athabasca Franchised systems for student support e.g Fernuniversität Development of regional autonomy e.g. Open University of China Significant change OUUK Steady development IGNOU and NIOS

6. The Functions of Regions in Distance Teaching Regional and local academic, learning and teaching support Regional and local administrative activities Regional and national economic growth Civic and community engagement Regional autonomy

7. Unisa Regional Centres Di re cti o ns to o ur ce nt re s Maps of our facilities Unisa Regional Centres in: Eastern Cape

8. The Open University UK Belfast Birmingham Bristol Cardiff Cambridge East Grinstead Edinburgh Gateshead London Leeds Manchester Milton Keynes (HQ) Nottingham Oxford 13 OU regions

9. The Open University of China

10. Change in organisations with regional structures Banks Bookshops From the high street to online…and back?

11. Regional Change in the OU UK 1971-2009 1971-1975 Growth in regional activity Appointments of academics as Staff Tutors and Senior Counsellors 1975-1990 Development and consolidation 1990-2002 Devolution to regions of administrative, marketing and business/community development activities 2002 Centralisation with the development of ICTs

12. Issues for discussion What is the future for regional networks in dedicated distance education institutions with increasing developments in ICTs? What is the impact of social media such as Twitter and Facebook? How would institutions quality assure face-to-face local tuition (where offered) if there were no regional centres? How important is it for national distance teaching institutions to have a regional presence for community engagement, publicity and economic development? What are the opportunities for distance teaching institutions to franchise some of their tutorial and student support work to other organisations?

13. Thank you for your attention Anne Gaskell afg25@cam.ac.ukafg25@cam.ac.uk Roger Mills arm50@cam.ac.ukarm50@cam.ac.uk