Economic implications and stakeholder reactions in a digital university environment

Abstract

Substantial insecurity about the future of eLearning and particularly about the future impact of digitalization on the educational sector prevails at present. Those, who were enthusiastic at the beginning are now more sceptical about the future development of teaching with digital media, others maintain their positive attitude and are looking for ways to promote and implement their use in universities. Numerous institutions have published or are publishing forecasts and time frames about the relevance of the upcoming innovations. Less discussed are the economic implications that digitization may have on the universities'stakeholders and their decision making. In the field of online and distance education a descriptive approach of the costs and benefits has been so far predominant. Instead we will raise some points to initiate a discussion about the economics of digital educational resources and the possible reactions of and impact on teachers, students and institutions. We will also point out some of the long-term effects that digitalization of education might have on a global level. Concluding that digitization followed a continuous development pulsed especially by universities of distance education and that phenomena such as MOOCs are not as "disruptive" as some claim. Instead, national policies, economic sustainability and the impact of digitization on different stakeholders will determine the future form of the "Digital University" in case such a university exists.