Learning International Networks Consortium (LINC) The Fifth International LINC Conference May 23 – 26, 2010 University Leadership: Bringing Technology-Enabled Education to Learners of All Ages The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts USA

The Online Life-Learner: Rethinking the Social Role of Universities in Distance Education Dr. Silvia Florea Dr. Constantin Oprean Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Romania

Career choice and educational paths in former Eastern Block-before 1898 "the governmental regimentation of access to the highest school track“ (Pinquart et al, 2004) Ideological objectives of Adult education (AE) prior to 1989 graduates to enroll into the highest educational track (1970s, 1980s) Romania, 8% East Germany, 8% West Germany, 23% Soviet Union, 18% 1950s – 80%

Occupational choices allocated slots based on predicted demand for occupations career choice and decisions, age state-coordinated distribution system

Advantages no gender stereotypes of career choice (Whitmarsh & Ritter, 2007) filling up of predicted demand for occupations free access to health care and education guaranteed employment and pension system protection security

The New Era New paradigm shift in learning New expansion of adult education and continuing professional education Newly emerging requirements in the labor market and different connotations of job profiles Accelerated shift from former education institutions and processes toward diverse learning opportunities BUT huge gaps between learners of different age groups

Graduates in mathematics, sciences and technologies annual growth rate was 5.5%, (1,1 percentage points above the European average rate) (According to the Preliminary report of the European Commission in 2008 regarding education and training progress) 2003/2004 annual growth rate represented 24.4% of the total number of Romanian graduates, which ranked Romania higher than Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia and even well above the EU average rate, 24.1% (Eurostat 2005).

Increasing Use of Learning Technologies in Romania e-learning modern programs distance Education Departments Distance Education in A Historical Context state initiatives in Eastern Europe

The Open Distance Learning Department at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

MySeLF Application ndex.htmlhttp://didu.ulbsibiu.ro/aplicatie/prezentare/i ndex.html

Learning in distance education programs Disadvantages: lack of face-to-face interaction, geographical remoteness, quality of program New component: periodical staff mobility to distance education centers in combination with online courses and assistance

Social role of universities with long distance programs socialization process students’ expectations for a different, newly established relationship with the college current desires for stripped-down version of higher education minus the plethora of electives and student activities, a more adult- oriented, for-profit educational and territorial variant local capacity to formulate learning demands and entrepreneurial projects the ability of universities to mobilize knowledge and competencies at medium and long distance

NIS forecast on Romanian Labour Resources by 2025 Source: INS data

Overall impact in the academic year , Romania’s long distance education students numbered 177, 204 (about 43,000 students more than in 2005 and 18 times more than in 1999) (NIS 2008) huge regional impact: Sibiu is situated in the Central Region of the country (Transylvania), area: square km, 14,3 % of Romanian territory 5 place among 8 development regions the region’s population is 2,5 mil people, out of which cca 60% are located in the urban area the age population structure indicates 15,7% (0-15) 66% (15 -59) 18,3% (over 60) since 1998, LBUS has trained well over 30,000 distance education graduates (2/3 have reportedly found jobs in the first two years following graduation)

End of presentation Thank you