University of British Columbia

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

The University of British Columbia (UBC) holds an international reputation for excellence in advanced research and learning. It is only 30 minutes from the heart of downtown Vancouver, Canada.

The UBC campus is considered a 'must-see' for any visitor to the city -- where snow-capped mountains meet ocean, and breathtaking vistas greet viewers around every corner.

Its web site is at http://www.ubc.ca

UBC is a member of AUCC and of the Group of Thirteen.

In e-learning circles, UBC is well-known as the place where Tony Bates worked for many years

VLE

UBC is also as the birthplace of WebCT (now owned by Blackboard).

WebCT Vista is UBC's online course management system. With over 25,000 people accessing course sites each week, and hundreds of active courses, WebCT has become an essential tool for supporting online course activities.

Strategy: Trek 2010

(sourced from http://www.trek2000.ubc.ca/index.html)

Vision

The University of British Columbia, aspiring to be one of the world’s best universities, will prepare students to become exceptional global citizens, promote the values of a civil and sustainable society, and conduct outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.

Mission

The University of British Columbia will provide its students, faculty, and staff with the best possible resources and conditions for learning and research, and create a working environment dedicated to excellence, equity, and mutual respect. It will cooperate with government, business, industry, and the professions, as well as with other educational institutions and the general community, to discover, disseminate, and apply new knowledge, prepare its students for fulfilling careers, and improve the quality of life through leading-edge research. The graduates of UBC will have developed strong analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking abilities; they will have excellent research and communication skills; they will be knowledgeable, flexible, and innovative. As responsible members of society, the graduates of UBC will value diversity, work with and for their communities, and be agents for positive change. They will acknowledge their obligations as global citizens, and strive to secure a sustainable and equitable future for all.

Learning

(sourced from http://www.trek2000.ubc.ca/principles/learning.html)

The following Goals relate specifically to e-learning

• Create new programmes for both full-time and part-time students that address the life-long learning needs of citizens in a knowledge-based society.
• Continue improvements to all aspects of the learning environment, including upgrades to laboratories and classrooms, and re-examine the configuration of instructional space in the context of changing expectations about teaching and learning.
• Encourage Faculties to continue developing innovative approaches that expose undergraduates to research-based and experiential learning, including co-operative education and problem-based learning.
• Continually strive to improve the digital environment at all UBC sites.
• Enhance service and support for distance learners.
• Support innovative teaching and create new learning experiences through the application of leading-edge technology.

e-learning

The University of British Columbia has an impressive reputation for e-learning including partnerships with for example the Tec de Monterrey.

See the UBC e-learning web site for more information on the use of technologies such as WebCT Vista, clickers, wikis, ePortfolios, Wimba and more. 125 distance learning courses are available across 30 different subjects - these may include both online and print media.

However the Annual Report 2006/2007 makes no mention of e-learning, blended learning or distance learning so that the status is judged to be NELI not MELI.

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