Two York appointees in e-Universities launch
Posted on 3 April 2001
Announced by Education and Employment Secretary, David Blunkett, the e-Universities project is expected to become a globally-competitive provider of Internet-based higher education.
Professor Ron Cooke has been appointed a Director of the new holding company which will oversee the e-Universities Project. Professor Kel Fidler, Professor of Electronics at York, has been appointed a member of the Committee for Academic Quality.
Professor Cooke, a member of the Board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, chaired its Steering Group on e-Universities.
Professor Fidler was responsible for the University of York's Teaching and Learning strategy as Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 1996 to 1999. The University has achieved outstanding results in Teaching Quality Assessments (or Subject Reviews).
The DfEE has allocated £62 million towards setting up and developing the e-Universities Project from 2001 to 2004. The Project will work with private sector partners, and the BBC and the British Library are in discussions on how they can contribute to the venture.
The e-Universities Holding Company will aim to safeguard the academic purpose and integrity of the project. The Project will be run by an operating company, a partnership of higher education and the private sector. It will operate under licence from the Holding Company. The operating company is likely to be established in the summer and the first e-courses should be launched next year.