An on-line course for on-line tutors - Professors and staff members as students

Demands for flexible learning require the usage of new information technology (ICT), particularly the Internet, for distribution of learning material and as a forum for collaboration. For this to take place the professionals in charge of courses and study programmes, need knowledge and skills within ICT, as well as an up-dated basis on relevant learning theories. Many traditional universities around the world are still at an early stage here. A branch of the United Nations University, The Global Virtual University (GVU) is trying to get around these difficulties, and had an urgent need for qualified on-line tutors around the world. Jointly with Agder and Stord/Haugesund University Colleges in Norway they developed and ran an on-line, global e-learning course for university staff at different locations. They wanted professors to exploit the potential of e-learning to facilitate knowledge and skills acquisition for both students and society in remote areas. Strategies as well as methods and experiences from this recent global e-learning course are presented in this paper.