Sir Anthony Cleaver, Chairman of UK eUniversities Worldwide Ltd, visited the Open University today for a series of discussions and presentations hosted at the Knowledge Media Institute.
Sir Anthony, Medical Research Council chairman and former IBM chief executive, is the first chairman of the new company, which was formed in 2001 to deliver the eUniversity programmes and services on behalf of UK higher education. His role will include overseeing delivery of the first e-learning courses for students in September 2002.
Today’s visit programme included presentations by Professor Diana Laurillard, PVC (Learning Technologies and Teaching), Professor David Sewart, Director of Student Services, Dr. Nicky Whitsed, Director of Library Services, and Mr. Dave Meara, Head of Strategic Applications (Learning and Teaching Solutions). Lunchtime discussions were joined by Open University Vice Chancellor Professor Brenda Gourley, as well as KMi Director Dr. Enrico Motta and KMi Deputy Director Dr. John Domingue.
UK eUniversities Worldwide Ltd. is a collaborative project by the UK higher education funding bodies to establish a new way of providing HE programmes through web-based learning. The project is designed to give UK higher education the capacity to compete globally with the major virtual and corporate universities being developed in the United States and elsewhere. The project was initiated, designed and co-ordinated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). It was first announced by the previous Education Secretary, David Blunkett, on 15 February 2000. The government has allocated £62 million to the project over the period 2001-04.
Sir Anthony Cleaver is the Chairman of the Medical Research Council and sits on the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Wicks Committee). Following graduation from Oxford University, he spent 30 years at IBM UK, culminating as Chairman and CEO. He went on to lead the privatisation of the Atomic Energy Authority, forming and subsequently managing the floatation of AEA Technology plc. He is also the Chairman of the Royal College of Music and a member of the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership.
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