Emerging ICTs in Higher Education

Concept Paper

 International Conference

“Emerging Information & Communication Technologies in Higher Education”

organized by the Mongolian University of Science and Technology and

by UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education

8-10 July, 2011

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Preamble

With many developing countries envisioning a future in which they hope to become learning societies built on knowledge economies, higher education has a significant role to play in development strategies in the pursuit of such aspirations. No knowledge economy can function without ICTs. Therefore, it is imperative that higher education institutions afford their graduates the literacy and competencies that their future work environments are likely to demand of them. Furthermore, being ICT-rich gives higher education institutions a competitive advantage. Apart from having enabling telecommunications and ICT policies, higher education institutions will need to develop strategies for effective deployment of emerging ICTs, such as cloud computing, mobile learning, e-learning, smart learning, etc.

ICT has also led to the emergence of Open Educational Resources (OER). OER can support the growing trend to introduce e-learning or online learning both for courses on campus and in distance education. Whether e-learning improves quality or reduce cost depends on intelligent financial and pedagogical planning. ICTs in general and e-learning in particular have reduced the barriers to entry to the higher education business. The wide adoption of ICTs calls for mindsets and skill sets that are adaptive to change. An attitude of resistance to change is often caused by the lack of appreciation of the benefits brought by ICTs and the fears about the replacement of people by technology. ICTs do not merely reinforce the infrastructure of higher education but greatly enhance a power to implement the academic ideal that knowledge is important.

Objectives

• To raise awareness on how the emerging ICTs, such as cloud computing, mobile learning, e‑learning, smart learning and OER could help, in particular, through developing guidelines and activities to promote quality education in the universities of the developing countries.
• To review best practices in terms of “Emerging information and communication technologies” in teaching and learning, and university management of developing countries, with a special interest in leveraging their potential for higher education.
• To bring multistakeholders together in an attempt to generate partnerships for establishing a strategy to leverage emerging ICTs for quality higher education.

Focus Areas

• Application of the emerging ICTs in higher education

This track aims at utilizing emerging technologies, such as cloud computing, mobile learning, e‑learning, smart learning towards improving quality of higher education. This track will highlight a number of examples of application.

• Open Educational Resources

This track focuses on new trends in knowledge sharing, dissemination and utilization. Recommendations for the developing countries to develop OER will be elaborated.

• University Management Information System

This track will examine the University Management Information System, which harnesses technology for better planning, setting standards, effecting change and monitoring results of the core functions of universities. Discussions on further improvement of the quality and capacity of management information systems to support strategic decision-making and policy implementation; stimulate and facilitate free flow of information throughout the higher education system; and  respond to the needs and demands of the younger generation (especially the digital natives) for better and increased access to university services and information through the web.

Expected Outcomes

• Guidelines for universities
• Conference proceedings
• Conference DVD

Keynote Speakers

• Dr. Otgonbayar Yondon, Minister of Education, Culture and Science of Mongolia
• Prof. Damdinsuren Bayanduuren, President of MUST, Mongolia
• Dr. Badarch Dendev, UNESCO IITE Director a.i.
• Prof. Narantsetseg Yadmaa, Vice President of Academic affairs, MUST, Mongolia
• Prof. Bernard Cornu, Director of the Innovation, CNED, France
• Prof. Dae-Joon Hwang, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea
• Prof. Jianzhong Cha, Beijing Jiaotong University, China
• Prof. Dominic Newbould, Open University, UK
• Prof. Toshio Kobayashi, Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Japan
• Prof. Sukhbaatar Bilgee, MUST, Mongolia
• Prof. Erdenebaatar Altangerel, MUST, Mongolia

Organizers

The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) was established as an integral part of UNESCO by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 29th session (November 1997) and is located in Moscow, Russian Federation. According to its Statutes, the Institute contributes to the design and implementation of the programmes of the Organization in regard to application of information and communication technologies in education. Hence, IITE serves a specific purpose within the fields of competence of UNESCO. It is principally programme-driven, responds to both global and country needs, is a part of an operational network of UNESCO structures and supports the achievement of the  strategic objectives and programme priorities of UNESCO. IITE’s mission is to serve as a centre of excellence and provider of technical support and expertise in the area of ICT usage in education.  Accumulated experience allows IITE to become a unique international expertise and resource centre, offering advice and guidance on reinforcing national potentials in ICT usage in education in the world.

Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) is one of the leading universities, which has extensive experience in provision of engineering education in Mongolia. MUST has been the leader in higher education reform in Mongolia after democratic changes, introducing credit-based curriculum, modern university management and ICT-supported university management information system. Many innovative initiatives of MUST have been disseminated to other higher education institutions. Two schools – for Computer Science and Management and for Communication and Information Technology - offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in modern ICTs. Recently the University has introduced a first e-learning platform in the country, which holds great potential for the improvement of the quality of education.

Potential partners

• Microsoft
• CISCO
• Intel
• MobiCom

Venue

The Conference plenary session will be held in the Central Library of MUST.

Parallel sessions will be held at the MUST campus.

_______________, Emerging ICTs in Higher Education, ШУТИС, , [24 July 2011], http://www.must.edu.mn/eicthe2011/