International Conference To Identify Global Distance Education Requirements;
How Will High-Tech Reinvent Higher Ed? Western Governors University Cohosts
International, Two-Day Gathering To <>
April 10, 1998
SALT LAKE CITY, April 9 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -- Governors,
educators, public officials, policy-makers and corporate representatives
from around the world will gather in Salt Lake City later this month in an
attempt to identify functional requirements for one of the fastest growing
segments of higher education worldwide - distance learning.
Western Governors University (WGU), in cooperation with the National
Governors' Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, is hosting the first
" Technology Standards for Global Learning" Conference April 27-28 at the
Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
Nearly 300 attendees are expected at the conference, which is sponsored by
3Com and AT&T. The goal of the event is to put the delivery of distance
education on a common path worldwide by identifying key issues and
recommending requirements necessary for technical standards.
"In the U.S. and around the world, those concerned with higher education are
struggling with the numerous delivery methods available for distance
learning, as well as the inconsistencies that exist for students,
institutions and educators," said Jeff Livingston, CEO of Western Governors
University. "Great potential exists for this fast-growing area of learning,
but to be effective in the future, we need to establish a common set of
technology standards for distance education."
According to Livingston, WGU is uniquely positioned to help drive the
standards issue, because of strong support among its 18 member states and
territories, and the business community, as well as interest from educators
in the U.S. and internationally. "Obviously, we have a strong interest in
the future of quality distance education," he explained. "And we intend to
continue taking a lead on this and other issues that help improve learning
worldwide."
Several renowned experts in distance learning will present during the two-
day conference, including Sir John Daniel, author of "MegaUniversities and
Knowledge Media: Technology Strategies for Higher Education." Daniel is
widely-regarded as one of a leading higher education visionary and an expert
on the benefits of intelligently integrating effective technology.
Other speakers include: Dennis M. Bone, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic
West Virgina; Ted Capener, vice president for university relations -
University of Utah; Don Foshee, president & CEO of Innovative Interactions,
Inc.; Stephen Hess, executive director of media services, University of
Utah; Michael Hooker, chancellor, University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill; Sally M. Johnstone, director of WICHE's Western Cooperative for
Educational Telecommunications; Clara M. Lovett, president, Northern Arizona
University; Greg Papadopoulos, vice president and CIO for Sun Microsystems;
Jane Smith Patterson, senior advisor to the governor of North Carolina, and
director of the Office of Technology; Mark Resmer, director of the
Educom/NLII IMS project; and Betty Taylor, dean of the University of San
Francisco College of Professional Studies.
For more information on the conference, contact Western Governors University
at (801) 575-5385. Media representatives interested in attending the
conference should call Jeff Xouris at (816) 512-9245.
About Western Governors University
Western Governors University was formed in 1997 as a result of the vision of
the governors of the western United States to share higher education
distance learning resources. WGU is a competency-based, degree-granting,
virtual university that delivers cost-effective education using the Internet
and other advanced telecommunications and networking technologies. WGU's
mission is to expand educational opportunities for learners everywhere,
offering courses from a wide array of sources. Educational access will be
provided to a dispersed population of students who might not otherwise have
access to higher education and to those needing workplace training. Its
corporate offices are located in Salt Lake City, Utah with academic offices
in Denver, Colorado.
SOURCE Western Governors University
/CONTACT: Jeff Xouris, Barkley Evergreen & Partners, 816-512-9245,
jxouris@bande.com/
[Copyright 1998, PR Newswire]