International Distance Education in the Asia Pacific: The Gifu JR Station Course

Abstract

This chapter outlines the history and development of an international distance learning relationship, which was established between an Australian and Japanese university. In 2002, the University of Sydney, Australia and Gifu University in Japan established a lecture exchange program whereby live lectures would be transmitted through Web-based video conferencing. Further development of the relationship resulted in an additional three-year program whereby an entire course, consisting of weekly live lectures transmitted from Australia, was offered not only to local university students but citizens of Gifu city. An empirical account outlines the origin and purpose of this course, analyzes its success, discusses pedagogical and cultural issues and challenges that arose, and makes recommendations for further development. The final section of the chapter suggests possible future directions, including a theoretical model for worldwide international distance education. Show more