Pioneering the Web Enhanced Learning between Taiwan and China (WELTaC) initiative in higher education: potential and issues

Abstract

This study pioneered an innovative project regarding the use of ICT for creating learning resources and opportunities for faculty members and adult learners on both sides of the Taiwan Straits – Taiwan and mainland China – that would not have been possible during the past five decades. This paper is based on a one‐year in‐depth study of an ICT initiative project in two established universities in Taiwan and China. This paper documents how the faculty members made this initiative a reality through collective efforts on designing, producing and delivering the digital learning materials by overcoming difficulties and challenges resulting from both distance and longtime political separation. The findings indicate that most of the learners gave positive responses to whether course content was current and of value and were satisfied with the instructors. This project develops a new and profound co‐operative model and introduces a new business marketing opportunity for universities for the commercialisation of knowledge that critically meets the demands of working people in the high‐tech arena and is driven by corporate need and the self‐interest of learners in the Chinese and Taiwanese community. Some issues related to e‐learning are identified and several suggestions are made in the conclusion for further reference.

Acknowledgements

This project is funded by the National Science Council of Taiwan under the research project code NSC92‐2520‐S‐007‐001. The authors are grateful to the participants of the project for their support of the work described in this paper. An early draft of this paper was presented at the 12th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE’04), Melbourne, Australia.