REGIONAL REPORT 2008 ON ASEAN UNIVERSITY-LEVEL ELEARNING - ELEARNINGAP.COM
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Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
Chairman of the Board and CEO
College of Internet Distance Education, Assumption University of Thailand
charm@ksc.au.edu
Abstract Keywords: eLearning, eASEAN,
ASEAN, virtual university, eLearning
The Sloan Consortium report entitled Methodology
“Staying the Course: Online Education in
the United States 2008” stated that over 20% 1. Introduction
of all US higher education students took at
least one eLearning course in the fall of In his capacity as the one and only
2007, and that with the problems of high fuel private-sector representative of Thailand in
price and global warming, over 90% of the eASEAN Task Force and Chairman of
students would consider eLearning option. It eASEAN Business Council, the author
was also earlier predicted that by the year reported the status of eLearning in ASEAN
2020, eLearning will be the mainstream and countries to the ASEAN Ministers and got an
classroom learning will be the supporting endorsement for ASEAN to promote
part. However, in the State of Florida since eLearning [1].
the year 2007, eLearning is already the There are many definitions of the term
mainstream in the sense that over 50% of “eLearning”. The College of Internet
students took at least one eLearning course. Distance Education of Assumption
As of the year 2008, the United States of University of Thailand is the only
America is a large region in the sense that organizational member from ASEAN of the
the population is about 304 million. Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) which is the
However, the US population is less than that international organization to promote
of ASEAN which is about 584 million. So, excellence in eLearning and so he would like
eLearning in ASEAN is as important as in to cite the very popular definition from
the US. In his capacity as a member of Sloan-C which states that “Online or
eASEAN Task Force and Chairman of eLearning” is learning in which 80-100% is
eASEAN Business Council, the author done thru the Internet, and that the term
reported the status of eLearning in ASEAN “Blended or Hybrid learning” is when 30-
countries to the ASEAN Ministers and got an 79% of learning is done thru the Internet.
endorsement for ASEAN to promote A classification of eLearning may be
eLearning. Presented in this paper is a based on the level, namely, university level,
regional report on eLearning in ASEAN in K-12 level, and short-course level. For the
the year 2008. It should be noted that university-level eLearning, it may be said the
Malaysia is the first country in ASEAN to United States of America is the most
establish a virtual university, and that advanced with Jones International University
Thailand is the first and the only country in as the first accredited virtual university, the
the world to offer the Ph.D. in eLearning University of Phoenix offering eLearning
Methodology program in the eLearning degree programs to the largest number of
mode. students, and Capella University as the first
Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
2.1Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
virtual university to enter NASDAQ stock delivery of strategic study report, completion
market (raising US$ 70 million in pre-IPO of requirements study for the Learning
funding and US$ 86 million in IPO). Other Management System (LMS), and delivery of
countries are also advanced in university- the authoring tool.
level eLearning. For example, Cannada has In the strategic study report, over
established the Canadian Virtual University. 1,000 educators and administrators in the
The United Kingdom government originally Brunei higher education institutes were
allocated Pound Stering 62 million for the interviewed resulting in recommendations to
UK e-University (UKeU) but the project adopt ICT Common Standards and Tools, to
faced serious difficulty in raising private expand connectivity and optimize existing
finance and has to be disbanded. However, infrastructure, to build awareness of ICT in
the universities such as Middlesex continue education, to implement best practices for
eLearning development on their own. In ICT in education, and to provide incentives.
ASEAN, the Universiti Tun Abdul Razak From the LMS requirements study,
(UNITAR) became the first virtual university WizLearn 8.0 LMS was customized for
in the region, and Assumption University of Brunei. Over 200 specific requests and
Thailand established the first and only Ph.D. recommendations for the LMS were made by
in eLearning Methodology program. key representatives of the Brunei Higher
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Education System. Of the 200 requested,
the General Agreement on Trades in 60% already existed, 20% are being
Services (GATS) include “Education”. Peter incorporated in the Brunei version, and
Drucker predicted that the commercial value another 20% will be considered later.
of eLearning will be greater than that of In delivery of the authoring tool,
eCommerce. Therefore, all countries Ultranote 2.0 authoring tool has been
including those in ASEAN must promote released for acceptance test. The tool can be
eLearning. installed on a PC without an Internet
This paper presents an up-to-date connection.
version for the year 2008 of the regional The Ministry of Education of Brunei
report on eLearning in Higher Education announced that the eLearning project would
which may be referred to as “Hi-Ed change the teacher-learning style at the
eLearning” in each and all of the ten higher institutions and higher-level colleges.
countries in ASEAN. The Ministry of Education hopes that all
students and teachers will make good use of
2. Hi-Ed eLearning in Brunei Darussalam the system, and that the project will be
completed by March 2009 with a four-year
From “www.mct.gov.jm” [2], the maintenance period. Although the project
Ministry of Education of Brunei established started with school level rather than
the “e-Education Flagship” project which university level, the experience will
was signed on January 26, 2008. From definitely be beneficial for the establishment
“www.asknlearn.com/pdf/BruneiMOE08.pdf of hi-ed degree programs in the eLearning
” [3] on August 13, 2008, Universiti Brunei mode in Brunei.
Darussalam (UBD) hosted the e-Learning
Information Day to report that the eLearning 3. Hi-Ed eLearning in Cambodia
project has progressed successfully with
almost 50 members of the Brunei academic On 25 – 26 February, 2003, a national
community actively involved. There were seminar was held by the Ministry of
three key milestones achieved, namely, Education Youth and Sport (MoEYS) with
Special Issue of the International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management, Vol.16 No. SP3, December, 2008
2.2Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
the support of UNESCO Office in Cambodia =141” [5], a Provincial Business e-Learning
[4]. The purpose of the seminar was to Project was proposed by The Asia
develop a national plan of action to achieve Foundation (TAF). The project would be
“Education For All (EFA)” by 2015. In order using access point for virtual learning in five
to achieve the policy, the Cambodian Community Information Centers (CICs) with
government would have to use Information funding from USAID/ANE to start online
and Communications Technology (ICT) as learning or eLearning in rural areas. There
the major means of education delivery were 250 Cambodian students who got
system. Resulted from the seminar are four scholarships to study business courses in
specific policies. The first policy is to use their towns without having to relocate. The
ICT for all teachers and students to reduce International Institute of Cambodia (IIC) was
the digital divide between Cambodian selected as the educational institution in the
schools and other schools in the world. The project. SDLearn was selected as the NGO to
second policy is to use ICT as a teaching and provide online and face to face “Train-the-
learning tool. The third policy is to use ICT Trainer” courses which may be said to be
to increase productivity, efficiency, and “Blended Learning”. Another NGO by the
effectiveness of the management system. name of “Khmer OS” was assigned to train
The fourth policy is to promote education for the IIC instructors, CIC staffs and students to
all Cambodian students thru distance use the Khmer Unicode keyboard. Finally,
education and self-learning. From the four the CICs would create an enabling learning
policies, the digital divide that exists in venue for students to learn the Khmer
various parts of the country should be eLearning platform.
reduced by providing access to ICT for CICs and IIC staffs were required to
learning and communication, especially for increase their skill levels to interact with
teacher training institutions and schools by students on the Internet. The 27 instructors
the year 2015 with Learning Needs completed the SDLearn online course on
Assessment and Curriculum Development; “eLearning Course Design and Facilitation”.
ICT Networking; Learning Resource, A private university in Phnom Penh also
Research and Courseware; and Teacher cooperated with CICs in the provinces. TAF
Development and Training. improved the Internet connections and
Cambodia started university-level related installation at the participating CICs,
eLearning in 2004. The National Institute of and SDLearn provided technical assistance
Business with the web (www.nib.edu.kh) to CICs and IIC. Moreover, CICs also
was supported by Japan Overseas provided online library of reference materials
Development Corporation (JODC) to in Khmer language, online environment for
provide eLearning Bachelor’s and Master’s study group, interactive tools, and guidance
degrees in many fields such as Accounting with IT trainers to introduce eLearning.
and Finance, Sales and Marketing and From an evaluation between first and second
Business Management. semester of the project, it was found that
The Ministry of Education, Youth and about 80% of the originally enrolled students
Sports promotes education for all through completed the courses and at least 50% of
distance education and self-learning. students were women. From the mid-term
University of Cambodia (www.uc.edu.kh) evaluation, it was found that 90% of the
offers eLearning and provides free email students were interested in taking eLearning
accounts with wireless Internet access. course in the future, and more than 85% of
From “www.dot-com- the students’ employment probability had
alliance.org/newsletter/article.php?article_id been increased. From the first semester, 16%
Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
2.3Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
of the students got a new job after sites, he found four constraints. The fist
completion, and about 40% of the students constraint was the lack of infrastructure in
had been promoted in their organizations. the sense that out of the population of 223
million people, only about 20 million own
4. Hi-Ed eLearning in Indonesia fixed telephone line which is required for
connection to the Internet and mobile phone
The Presidential decree number 50, connection to the Internet would be too
2000 established a team of “Telematika” to expensive. The second constraint was that
utilize ICT in various aspects including the standards on content management did not
education, especially, to facilitate the use of reach the academic intellectual level. The
the Internet for more efficient teaching- third constraint was that there was no
learning process [6]. coordination in conducting eLearning. In
The implementation of eLearning in some universities, each department
Indonesian eduation may be said to have established its own eLearning facilities
stared in the year 2002 when the Center for without coordination with other departments.
Information and Communication Technology The fourth constraint was the cultural factor
for Education cooperated with the in the sense that Indonesian prefer talking
Directorate of Secondary Education and the over writing and listening to lecture over self
Directorate of Vocational Education to study thru the Internet.
develop eLearning under e-education There are many Indonesian universities
program. The learning materials developed engaging in eLearning and a few examples
were in mathematics, physics, chemistry, will be given here. The fist example of hi-ed
biology, electronics and information eLearning in Indonesia is at Universitas
technology for senior secondary schools and Terbuka (UT) which had 400,392 students in
vocational schools. the year 2007. UT offers over 58 subjects
There were five examples of online such as “STAT4432 Computer 1”.
eLearning-related developments in Indonesia The second example is Universitas
by the year 2004. The first example was Indonesia (UI) which started eLearning in
online courses by Petra Christian University three different departments, namely, Internal
in Surabaya. The second example was online Medicine, International Relation, and
tutorial by Open University. The third Computer Science. By early 2004. the
example was a joint research program thru Faculty of Computer Science launched the
ICT by Bandung Institute of Technology, “Student-Centered E-Learning Environment
Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada (SCELE)” supported by printed textbook
University, and University of Diponegoro. and face-to-face teaching [8].
The fourth example was digital library The third example is the Institute
network supported by Canadian International Teknologi Bandung (ITB) established the
Development Agency (CIDA), and McGill School In the Internet in Asia (SOI Asia)
University of Canada, and Indonesia Institute focusing on course exchange via the Internet
of Science. The fifth example was Computer and teleconferencing [9].
Assisted Instruction (CAI) learning material The fourth example is Universitas
developed by the Center for Information and Gadjah Mada (UGM) started small scale
Communication Technologies for Education. development of eLearning in the Faculty of
Sulistyo-Basuki stated in his report in Engineering to use the problem-based
the year 2007 [7] that beginning in the year learning virtually [10]. Contents for
2000, eLearning was started in Indonesia. engineering courses were developed with
Based on his study of about 60 eLearning
Special Issue of the International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management, Vol.16 No. SP3, December, 2008
2.4Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
theories, concepts, exercises, practices, and From Lao County Report to Asia e-
linkages to external sources. Learning Network in the year 2002 [16], an
The fifth example is Universitas Islam institution active in eLearning was Science
Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) which Technology and Environment Agency which
developed “Sinau Online” as its Learning is under the Prime Minister Office. It has 150
Management System [11]. The purpose of staff members. Its responsibilities include
Sinau Online was for learning thru multiple Information Technology research and
channels and Medias to exchange classroom- development, Knowledge-based capacity
based learning. There are over 40 courses building, Information Technology
available online at Sinau Online. monitoring and management for the
The sixth example is Universitas government, creation and maintenance of
Padjadjaram (UNPAD) started blended Information Technology standards, and
learning using web-based technology [12]. Intellectual Property and Copyright of
The seventh and eighth examples are Information Technology products.
Universitas Bina Nusantara and Universitas Another country report [17] mentioned
Pelita Harapan which offer web-based “National ICT Policy Vision 2020 which
eLearning programs [13]. The ninth example includes bringing the country into the
is Trisakti University (www.trisakti.ac.id) information age, and developing necessary
which has already offered Master of human resources and institutional capacities.
Management in eLearning mode and in the There is also “Lao National Internet
process of preparation of other eLearning Committee (LANIC) responsible for national
degree programs [14]. Internet policy and regulation.
Examples of other Indonesian It was mentioned that in the year 2003,
universities offering eLearning are there was an e-Learning implementation
Universitas Cenderwasih, Gorontalo Teacher which failed but it familiarize Lao learners
College, Universitas Hasanudin, Universitas with e-Learning. Laos has one eLearning
Udayana, and etc. Southeast Asian Ministers Center located at the Faculty of Engineering
of Education Organization Regional Open of the National University and it is supported
Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC) had by the Japanese Government.
conducted many eLearning-related
workshops in Indonesia such as at 6. Hi-Ed eLearning in Malaysia
Universitas Lampung, Universitas
Warmadewa, and Institut Pertanian Bogor In the paper on “Higher Education in
[15]. Malaysia: Quality e-Learning on High”,
November 2008, there was a study carried
5. Hi-Ed eLearning in Laos out in six higher education institutions (HEI)
by visiting and discussing with the
In the year 1995, ten higher-learning individuals responsible for eLearning,
institutions in Laos were integrated into the analysis of documents, websites, and
National University of Laos learning management systems. It was found
(www.nuol.edu.la). In August 2004, with the out that most of the HEI started by
support of Kobe University in Japan and acquisition of adequate infrastructure to offer
Japan International Corporation Agency good eLearning platform to students.
(JICA), it organized lectures on the topic of Massive investments were made from 2003-
“International Economics” which were given 2007 for the infrastructure and Learning
in Kobe and attended in interactive mode by Management Systems. The second phase of
120 students in Vientiane. eLearning development in Malaysia was the
Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
2.5Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
integration of ICT with the teaching and University Technology MARA
learning processes which include strategic (www.uitm.edu.my) [1] which was
plans for using ICT in teaching and learning, established in 1956. In the year 2008, it
the translation of the plans into reality, the provides 3 satellite campuses, 15 branch
coordination of the strategies for the success campuses, 9 city campuses and 25 franchise
of eLearning, and the right combination of colleges which included eLearning students
human resources. The study revealed that in the faculty of Business Management and
most institutions have not drawn strategic faculty of Information Studies.
plans for using ICT in teaching and learning The forth example in Malaysia is the
according to the plans led out in the year Universiti Putra Malaysia (www.upm.edu.my) [1]
2000 calling for institutional support, course which was established in 1931. It provides
development, teaching/learning, course eLearning with support of Mahirnet
structure, student support, faculty support, (www.mahirnet.com) with online tutorial.
evaluation and assessment. The institutions The fifth example in Malaysia is the Open
interviewed gave impressions that the University Malaysia, (www.unitem.edu.my)
decision on the use of eLearning was made [1] which was established in the year 2000. It
by the management because everyone else provides degree programs delivered by using
was doing it. It was believed that every Learning Management System (LMS).
institution has to offer eLearning to compete The sixth example is Asia e University
with other institutions. (AeU) which is a dual-mode multinational
Malaysia has the first eLearning or university in Malaysia. It was established as
virtual university in ASEAN and that is the the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Countries
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR) [1] (ACD) with the support of 30 ACD member
with the web (www.unitar.edu.my). countries [19]. There are seven major
UNITAR was established in 1997 as the first schools offering various programs. The
virtual or eLearning university in ASEAN. schools are School of Management, School
Among the accredited degree programs are of Information and Communications
Bachelor of Business Administration, Technology, School of Education and
Bachelor of Information System, Bachelor of Cognitive Sciences, School of Arts and
Management, Master of Business Social Sciences, School of Science, Health
Administration, Master of Information and and Environmental Studies, School of
Multimedia Tech, and Master of Information Foundation, Vocational and Technical
Technology and Management. Studies, and School for Lifelong Learning.
The second virtual university in The schools are supported by service centers
Malaysia is the Multimedia University such as Centre for Graduate Studies, Centre
(www.mmu.edu.my) [1] which was of Instructional and Learning Technologies
established in 1999. It offers two accredited (CILT), Centre for Research, Innovation and
eLearning degrees programs, namely, Commercialisation (CRIC), and Centre for
Bachelor of Management, and Bachelor of Languages (CL).
Business Adminitration in Human Resorce
Management. MMU is planning to offer 7. Hi-Ed eLearning in Myanmar
three more degree programs which are
Bachelor of e-Business, Bachelor of Japan’s Minitry of Economy, Trade
Information Technology, and Master of and Industry supported the eLearning Center
Business Administration. (www.yangon.com.mm) [1]. It offers
The third example of Malaysian preparatory materials on WBT (eLearning
universities offering eLearning is the system from WBT System Ltd. in Ireland)
Special Issue of the International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management, Vol.16 No. SP3, December, 2008
2.6Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
for IT engineer examination. There is an 8. Hi-Ed eLearning in Philippines
“MBA Program” and 180 students have
graduated and may later be expanded in In the year 2000, Philippine passed the
eLearning mode. E-Commerce Act and then established the
In the report “E-Learning Status in Information Technology and E-Commerce
Myanmar” [20], it was stated that the Council (ITECC) which came up with the
Myanmar ICT Development Council was vision of an ePhilippines [21]. The ITECC
established in the year 2000 and the Human Resource Committee announced the
e-learning initiatives include establishing plan to promote eLearning at all level of
multimedia classroom in high schools and education, organize a national eLearning
middle schools all over the country, starting conference, enable more schools to teach
ICT education by opening Computer ICT, and promote the collaboration in
Universities in Yangon and Mandalay and development of eLearning programs and
Computer Colleges in big cities, starting instructionakl materials.
e-education program by Electronic Data Several universities in the Philippines
Broadcasting System for University for have started eLearning degree programs. The
Distance Learning by opening over 200 first example is the University of the
e-Learning centres all over the country, Philippines Open University (UPOU) [1]. It
opening 24 government computers colleges was established in 1995. It has 30 learning
in addition to Universities of Computer centers. Contact can be made by telephone
Studies, offering from Diploma to Doctoral and email. Online short courses are available
courses on ICT. The number of e-learning via the website. It adopted the Integrated
centers opened was 619. Yangon University Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) from
of Distance Education and Mandalay the National University of Singapore.
University of Distance Education have been The second example is De La Salle
providing parts of their instruction in University (www.dlsu.edu.ph) which is a
e-learning mode to the 619 centres. The Catholic university founded in 1911. The
Ministry of Education has been using Graduate School of Business offers two
e-Learning in teacher upgrading program. modes of online courses. The first mode is
Yangon Institute of Economic has been mixed-mode with face-to-face 8 times and
offering Diploma in Education Management web-based 6 times. The second mode is full
in eLearning mode. The English Department online where there is face-to-face for
of Yangon University has launched orientation only. The university implemented
eLearning in the “Young Faculty the “Internet-Enhanced Master of Arts in
Development Program”. The University of Teaching Literature Program”.
Computer Studies in Yangon offers MSC in The third example is Ateneo de Manila
Computer Science in the blended learning University (ADMU) which implemented
mode. Myanmar Computer Federation “International eLearning for Professional
e-Learning Centre has been conducting Journalists”. The fourth example is
e-learning training courses. The e-learning Polytechnic University of the Philippines
centres throughout Myanmar have been (PUP) which promotes eLearning.
providing training courses to 1.25 million The fifth example is the collaboration
students, 10,000 teachers, and about 700,000 project between Simon Fraser University in
students in universities and colleges. Canada and UPOU in 1996 to 2001 to
support expansion of human resource and
development opportunities. The sixth
example is the project to develop course
Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
2.7Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
materials for small business training and The second example is Nanyang
certification program sponsored by the Technological University. In the year 2000,
Canadian International Development Agency NTU launched S$ 6 million eLearning
(CIDA) in 1999-2000. The seventh example progran named “edveNTUre” to facilitate
is the project to design and develop training 23,000 students and 1,300 academic staff.
program for marine deck officers funded by Within three years of implementation, 90%
the Norwegian Maritime Directorate in 2002 of the NTU courses have started using
to 2004. eLearning tools.
On July 17, 2008, Intel and the The third example is Singapore
Department of Education launched Management University (www.smu.edu.sg).
eLearning Site for public schools after Intel SMU provides “SMUConnect” portal for
trained more than 80,000 teachers on basic access to class lists, lecture plans, discussion
computer skills [22]. forums, notifications, examination records,
and etc.
9. Hi-Ed eLearning in Singapore The fourth example is U21 Global
which hopes to offer eLearning to a good
From the 2004 report on e-learning in portion of the 32 million students around the
Singapore [23], Singapore aimed to be the e- world. It claims to feature innovative
Learning Hub in Asia and Pacific. From the interface design, thoughtful integration of
2007 report on e-learning in Singapore [24], web-based resource, productive use
the Singaporean Information Technology interpersonal interaction, and support
Standard Committee (ITSC) conducted an services.
eLearning survey in 2005 and found that On July 16, 2007, PRlog issued a press
over 80% of eLearning courses were release [25] that SkyQuestCom has been
available to staff and students in schools, and recognized as the largest self-development
75% of schools were using Learning portal in Singapore, featuring library of 200
Management Systems (LMS). online video seminars and 4,000 eBooks of
Singapore Government has been the world’s best speakers.
spending a lot of resourses in universities,
especially the two full-fledged public 10. Hi-Ed eLearning in Thailand
universities, namely, National University of
Singapore (NUS), and Nanyang In the year 1995, Thailand started
Technological University (NTU), and a eLearning by establishing the project
private university named Singapore “Distance Learning Foundation’s eLearning
Management University (SMU). In the year to Honour HM the King”[26, 27]. As of the
2001, U21 Global which is a consortium of year 2008, the project offers eLearning for
leading universities has chosen Singapore as over 3,000 secondary schools, 15,000
the global headquarter to develop and deliver primary schools, 5 universities in Yunnan,
eLearning. China, 3 schools in Laos, one university and
The first example is the National one junior college in Vietnam, University of
University of Singapore (www.nus.edu.sg). Distance Education in Yanson, Myanmar, 15
It is the oldest university in Singapore. Since Thai temples in Malaysia, and etc.
1997, NUS offers Integrated Virtual University-level eLearning in Thailand
Environment (IVLE) as a web-based tool for started in the year 2002 when the author
eLearning. IVLE has hosted more than 2,500 proposed to the Prime Minister that Thailand
discussion forums and 3,000 assignment established a decree that allowed Thai
repositories. universities to offer eLearning degree
Special Issue of the International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management, Vol.16 No. SP3, December, 2008
2.8Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
programs. He authored the first draft of the
eLearning law and submitted it to the In January 2006, the first eLearning
Ministry of University Affairs. After several degree program was offered in Thailand and
meetings, the Ministry organized an open that was at the College of Internet Distance
hearing on the eLearning law. In his capacity Education of Assumption University with the
as the President of the Computer Association author as the CEO of the College and
of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Program Director of the M. Sc. in
HM the King, he presented the draft law and Management program.
chaired the open hearing. The results from As of the year 2008, universities in
the hearing were used to modify the law. In Thailand offers all levels of complete
August 2004, the author was elected eLearning programs from Doctoral,
Chairman of eASEAN Business Council and Master’s, Bachelor’s, Certificates and short
Thailand had not approved the eLearning courses.
law. So, he mounted another push by At the Ph.D. level, Thailand offers the
proposing to the ASEAN Ministers that first, and as of the year 2008, the only Ph.D.
eLearning be promoted by all ASEAN program in eLearning Methodology, in the
member countries and the Ministers agreed. eLearning mode. Searching for “Ph.D.
He also sent letters to the Prime Minister eLearning Methodology” from Google, the
such as that Thailand was behind Cambodia first five entries are about the Ph.D. degree at
in eLearning, similar to the case of the US Assumption University. The Ph.D. students
being behind Russian Sputnik and the US are from 12 countries such as US, Canada,
urgently rectified the situation. He requested England, Australia, New Zealand, Romania,
the Prime Minister to rectify the situation by Iran, and etc. In additional to students from
speeding up the approval of the eLearning the twelve countries, there are applications
decree. The Prime Minister took action and from Germany, Japan, China, Philippines,
the eLearning decree was published in the Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and etc.
Royal Gazette on October 26, 2005. From For complete eLearning degree
the year 2002 to 2005, the author lobbied programs at the Master’s level, Thailand
five Ministers and was finally successful. On offers Master of Science in Management,
July 17, 2006, he was also named “The Master of Science in ICT, and Master of
Father of Thai E-Learning” by the Science in eLearning Methodology at
International Biographical Centre, Assumption University; Master of Nursing
Cambridge, England, as shown in Figure 1. Science, Master of Public Health, Master of
Arts in Cultural Management, and Master of
Science in Social and Administrative
Pharmacy at Chulalongkorn University;
Master of Science in Public Health at
Mahidol University; Mater of Arts in
Leadership and Master of Science in IT
Management at Rangsit University; Master
of Business Administration at the University
of Thai Chamber of Commerce; Master of
Education at Chiangmai University; and
Master of Arts in Knowledge Management at
Silpakorn University.
For complete eLearning degree
Figure 1. Father of Thai eLearning programs at the Bachelor’s level, Thailand
Fifth International Conference on eLearning for Knowledge-Based Society, December 11-12, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
2.9Prof. Dr. Srisakdi Charmonman
offers Bachelor of Science in Software year 2008, there are 34 universities in the
Development at Chulalongkorn University; TCU consortium, and TCU offers 480
Bachelor of Business Administration in courses with over 50,000 students but does
Tourism at Naresuan University; Bachelor of not offer any eLearning degree program.
Law at Rangsit University; Bachelor of
Accountancy at the University of Thai 11. Hi-Ed eLearning in Vietnam
Chamber of Commerce; and Bachelor of
Science in Automotive Industry at Kasetsart In the year 2008, eLearning in Vietnam
University. is still in the early phase of development
For certificate programs in eLearning with about 10 eLearning websites.
mode, Thailand offers several, such as The Ministry of Education and
Certificate in SME Management at Training takes responsibility for the contents
Assumption University; and Certificate for of the eLearning websites, and the Ministry
eLearning Professional, Certificate in Car’s of Planning and Investment is in charge of
Structure and Systems, and Certificate in granting licences to set up eLearning
Computer Skills at Thai Cyber University. websites for business purposes. From
The Certificate in SME Management is a “english.vietnamnet.vn” [28], the Head of
joint program between the College of the Information Technology under the
Internet Distance Education of Assumption Ministry of Education and Training (MoET)
University and the Office of Small and stated that eLearning would be the model of
Medium Enterprise Promotion. It is called training of the future, and that there were
“eSME University”. It includes 18 courses many eLearning programs promoted in
which may be taken free of charge. There Vietnam. Moreover, there are three channels
have already been over 20,000 students from for eLearning which are websites provided
9 million potential students working in SME by companies, eTraining provided by
in Thailand. universities, and Training programs imported
For individual courses not in complete from other countries.
eLearning degree programs, Thailand offers From “www.seekingmedia.com.au”
numerous courses. For example, Mae Fah [29] on 26 February 2008, the Vietnamese
Luang University offers 30 courses, and government has given final approval to a
Chiang Mia Rajabhat University offers 110 joint venture between Janison which is
courses. Another interesting eLearning Australia’s large provider of online-learning
program from Thailand is “eLearning for services and Gensoft which is a Vietnamese
Bedside Chorus” in which the College of software development company to complete
Internet Distance Education of Assumption the largest eLearning project in Vietnam.
University cooperated with the Hospice The project started 2 years ago. After an
Foundation of Thailand to produce eight- month trial period from April to
“eLearning for Bedside Chorus for Palliative December 2007, the project was given final
Care”. The eLearning courses offered free of approval by the Ministry of Labour and
charge are “How to Sing” and 20 singing Social Affairs in February in 2008. The trail
lessons for patients who have been included 600 days of training to school staff
diagnosed to die in about 6 months and their at 9 different locations with 428 online
relatives to entertain the patients by singing modules created.
at their bedside. An example of eLearning degree in
Another important development was Vietnam is at Can Tho University
that Thai Cyber University (TCU) was (www.ctu.edu.vn) which is more of Blended
established on January 12, 2005. As of the Learning rather than eLearning. The Blended
Special Issue of the International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management, Vol.16 No. SP3, December, 2008
2.10Regional Report 2008 on ASEAN University-Level eLearning
Learning includes delivery of lessons in the eLearning Finance, Operation and Marketing
form of DVD, VCD, CDROMS, and Video Management, Online Courseware
Cassettes. Communication between Development: Design, System,
instructors and students are via eMail and Implementation, and Assessment.
Videoconferencing.
From “English.vietnamnet.vn” [30] on 12. Concluding Remarks
25 September 2008, the Ministry of
Education and Training and Viettel As of the year 2008, all countries in
organized a launching ceremony for the ASEAN are promoting eLearning.
education network which allows 39,000 According to the Sloan Consortium, the term
students access to the Internet free of charge. “eLearning” should be applied only when the
For 600 universities, colleges, and vocational Internet is used in 80-100% of
training schools, Viettel will charge monthly teaching/learning. Less than 80%, the term
payment for usage of the Internet. The applied should be “Blended Learning”. As
Ministry of Education and Training has of the year 2008, only a few universities in
declared the 2008-2009 academic years as ASEAN offer eLearning in the Sloan
the year of IT application by providing definition. Examples are the College of
teachers IT skills, and preparing software for Internet Distance Education of Assumption
eLearning. University of Thailand and De La Salle
From “www.owli.org” on 13 December University. The other universities are
2007 [31], Vietnam OpenCourseWare offering blended learning or web-based
(OCW) makes eLearning available to learning. However, it does not really mater
students. The OCW consortium was whether eLearning or blended learning is
established by Massachusetts Institute of used as long as the goal of education is
Technology. Its membership includes 150 achieved for the benefits of all concerned.
universities worldwide to provide a free and
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