This book is about the shift from the modern university of the nation state to the global virtual university of the future. John Tiffin and Lalita Rajasingham launched the idea of virtual universities on the Internet with the publication of 'In Search of the Virtual Class: Education in an Information Society' in 1995. Since then, virtual universities have multiplied worldwide. However, the authors argue that globalisation and the Internet are still in their infancy, and universities have yet to face the challenges of global free trade in broadband telecommunications, artificial intelligence and HyperReality. Based on material gathered from research in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, this book describes how a global university could function in the future and presents a paradigm from which it might be constructed. This unique, visionary text will be critical reading for academics, postgraduate students and for anyone involve din policymaking and planning within the university community and administration.

About the Author
John Tiffin is Emeritus Professor of Communication at Victoria University of Wellington. Dr Lalita Rajasingham is Senior Lecturer and Director of programmes in Communication in the School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington.

Reviews

'Tiffin and Rajasingham's book The Global Virtual University is interesting and timely. Its blend of the historical with contemporary descriptions of the purpose and life of modern universities sets the discussion and analysis of future possibilities well into the socio-political context influencing higher education policy and trends. The book is well structured and written in an easy-to-read style. It both challenges and engages the intellect. The author's knowledge and experience of information and communications technologies is very evident.' - British Journal of Education Technology

'[The authors] offer a very well-written, nicely illustrated and exemplified, interesting, and at times provocative, view of the future of higher education, with a pleasing historical look back where appropriate.' - David Bawden, Journal of Documentation

"Lalita Rajasingham and John Tiffin have brilliantly sketched a philosophical foundation for the future of the university in an era of rapid technological change and globalization....This book is essential reading for students and faculty within existing universities, and for policy makers whose major challenge will be to enable the learned society on a global scale." - Donald E. Hanna, University of Wisconsin

Book Information
ISBN 9780415287029
Author Lalita Rajasingham
Format Paperback
Page Count 188
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 332g