| NETO/EDSAT National Education Telecommunications Organization & EDSAT Institute |
| Global Summit on Distance
Education
|
|
| 23-24 October 1996 Washington, DC USA | |
SETTING: More than 350 educators, distance education theorists and practitioners from nearly 30 countries covering six continents gathered at INTELSAT headquarters in Washington DC, October 23-24, 1996, to debate ways to achieve better access for all to modern communications technology. The two-day session featured several prominent speakers and panel discussions.
TOPICS: Included the role of the private sector; the role of government; education, training and technology; new technology transfer and applications; distance education providers' experiences; education industry collaboration; and the impact of changing national and international policy.
FINDINGS: Participants agreed that distance education is in great demand worldwide, demand that is soaring as awareness grows of its potential for maximizing use of teaching resources to reach larger numbers of learners. It holds unrivaled promise for equalizing education for the remote, the isolated and the disadvantaged; but it may not be available or affordable where it is needed most. It also challenges the future of educational bureaucracies and institutions trying to put it into practice. The private sector has proved its ability to offer distance education by adapting a variety of technologies for local needs, but satellites will be the future worldwide delivery mechanism of choice.
SOLUTIONS: The Summit identified a number of strategies for lowering distance educator's satellite time costs under the current status quo:
 | Use of lower-tech appropriate technology and/or Internet connections where feasible; |
| Long-term purchasing commitments; |
| Cooperative joint purchasing arrangements that speak with one voice so as to maximize buying power; |
| Multiple end-use agreements to share costs and capacity wherever possible; |
| Government subsidies; |
| Socially responsible corporate policies; |
| Charitable foundation involvement; |
| Re-prioritizing to stress long-term investment; and |
| Intensive, organized lobbying for laws, regulations and price breaks to benefit education. |
CONCLUSIONS: Educators might do best with a public/private partnership arrangement for a satellite dedicated to education; the lives of children cannot be approached with a traditional business attitude.
National Education Telecommunications
Organization/Education Satellite
Email:
edsatamericas@netoedsat.org
