Easem White Paper: E-Learning for Lifelong Learning
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e-ASEM White Paper: e-Learning for Lifelong Learning Editor in Chief Bowon Kim Authors Lars Birch Andreasen, Mie Buhl (Denmark) Tsuneo Yamada (Japan) Mansor Fadzil, Latifah Abdol Latif (Malaysia) Alena Pistovcakova, Jaroslava Kovacova (Slovakia) Min Seung Jung, Kyung Ae Choi, Eun Soon Baik (South Korea) Thapanee Thammetar, Supannee Sombuntham (Thailand) Publisher KNOU Press 57 Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea, 110-500 http://press.knou.ac.kr Copyright ⓒ 2010 by ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning, Research Network 1 (e-ASEM). All rights reserved. ISBN 978-89-20-00574-9 93370 ISBN 978-89-20-00575-6 99370 (e-book) PDF version of this work is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. (See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ for more) It can be accessed through the e-ASEM web site at http://easem.knou.ac.kr. Acknowledgements This white paper is a general view of the practices of e-Learning for lifelong learning in six ASEM countries: Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Slovakia, South Korea and Thailand. All of them are key members of the research network 1 (e-ASEM) of the ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning, and I am delighted to see the first visible outcome of their cooperative research since its inception. The idea of publishing this white paper was proposed in the network meeting held in Bangkok, July 2009. The network members unanimously affirmed the significance of this project and representatives from the above six countries promised to participate. The basic structure of the book was also agreed upon during the meeting: concepts of e-Learning, policies, regulations and funding of e-Learning in lifelong learning, and the status and characteristics of e-Learning for lifelong learning. The basic ideas and format were faithfully followed by the respective papers submitted by each country. This white paper will play an important role in providing basic materials for further studies and comparative research. I hope this accomplishment will contribute to for- mulating policies concerning e-Learning and lifelong learning in all the ASEM countries. This could also serve as a stimulus to the second ongoing white paper series covering other ASEM countries. I’d like to express my gratitude to all the authors of six countries, without whose dedication this white paper could not have been started. The Malaysian representatives deserve special thanks for their efforts regarding the cross-analysis paper, which en- Acknowledgements iii hanced this large volume and made it more accessible. Likewise, gratitude is expressed to the secretariat of the ASEM Education and Research Hub for their continuing encouragement and financial support for this publication. Last but not least, my deepest gratitude goes out to the e-ASEM support team of the Institute of Distance of Education: Dr. Youngsook Jung, Dr. Younghee Woo, and Ms. Heyeon Yune, whose passion and energy made this book possible. Bowon Kim Coordinator, Research Network 1 (e-ASEM) ASEM Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning iv e-ASEM White Paper: e-Learning for Lifelong Learning Part I A Cross Analysis of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning in Six Participating Countries of the e-ASEM White Paper Project Open University Malaysia ∙ 1 Introduction ∙ 5 1. Education Systems ∙ 5 2. Concepts of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 10 3. Policies, Regulation and Funding of e-Learning in Lifelong Learning ∙ 14 4. Status and Characteristics of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 18 Part II White Papers of Six Asia-Europe Countries ∙ 27 01❚Denmark ❘Lars Birch Andreasen, Mie Buhl ∙ 29 Introduction ∙ 31 1. The Danish educational system ∙ 32 2. Concepts of lifelong learning and e-Learning ∙ 45 3. Government policy, funding & regulation of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 50 4. Status and characteristics of e-Learning for lifelong learning in Denmark ∙ 59 5. Typical cases of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 83 6. Recommendations and prospects ∙ 97 References ∙ 100 CONTENTS v 02❚Japan❘Tsuneo Yamada ∙ 105 Executive Summary ∙ 107 1. Educational Systems in Japan ∙ 109 2. Lifelong Learning and e-Learning Concepts ∙ 133 3. Government Policy, Finance/Funding, and the Regulation of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 138 4. Status and Characteristics of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 162 5. Typical e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 176 6. Recommendations and Prospects ∙ 229 References ∙ 231 03❚Malaysia ❘Mansor Fadzil, Latifah Abdol Latif ∙ 233 Executive Summary ∙ 235 1. The Malaysian Education System ∙ 237 2. Concepts of Lifelong Learning and e-Learning in Malaysia ∙ 252 3. Policies, Funding and Regulationof E-learning in Lifelong Learning in Malaysia ∙ 261 4. Status and Characteristics of E-learning in Lifelong Learning in Malaysia ∙ 275 5. Typical E-learning in Lifelong Learning: Malaysian Initiatives ∙ 281 6. Recommendations and Prospects for Malaysia ∙ 291 References ∙ 299 List of Tables and Figures ∙ 304 04❚Slovakia❘Alena Pistovcakova, Jaroslava Kovacova ∙ 309 Executive Summary ∙ 311 1. Educational systems in the Slovak Republic ∙ 312 2. Concepts of lifelong learning and e-Learning ∙ 318 vi e-ASEM White Paper: e-Learning for Lifelong Learning 3. Government policy, finance/funding, regulation of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 325 4. Status and Characteristics of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 336 5. Typical e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 339 6. Recommendations and Prospects ∙ 347 References ∙ 355 05❚South Korea ❘Min Seung Jung, Kyung Ae Choi, Eun Soon Baik ∙ 357 1. Introduction to Education System in South Korea ∙ 359 2. Definition of lifelong learning and e-Learning ∙ 364 3. Status and Characteristics of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning in Korea ∙ 370 4. Typical e-Learning for Lifelong Learning ∙ 381 5. Suggestions and Remarks for the Future ∙ 451 06❚Thailand ❘Thapanee Thammetar, Supannee Sombuntham ∙ 453 1. Educational systems ∙ 455 2. Concepts of lifelong learning and e-Learning ∙ 460 3. Government policy, finance/funding, regulation of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 461 4. Status and Characteristics of e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 462 5. Typical e-Learning for lifelong learning ∙ 468 6. Recommendations and Prospects ∙ 476 References ∙ 477 CONTENTS vii Part I A Cross Analysis of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning in Six Participating Countries of the e-ASEM White Paper Project -contributed by Open University Malaysia OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Authors David Lim Ng Man San Tengku Amina Munira Moderators Mansor Fadzil Latifah Abdol Latif Introduction This cross analysis reports the current status of six participating countries in planning, implementing and promoting e-Learning for lifelong learning, as described in each country’s respective e-ASEM white paper. The six countries are Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, Slovakia, South Korea and Thailand. This analysis also describes policies, legal, conceptual and practical issues that affect e-Learning and lifelong learning in these six countries. The main purpose of this cross analysis is to highlight the sim- ilarities and differences of the salient features that have been captured in each of the white papers. In the following sections, the broad education system of the six countries is first com- pared as background information. This is followed by a comparative description of policies and concepts relating to e-Learning for lifelong learning. Finally, the analysis highlights the status of e-Learning for lifelong learning. This comparison is illustrated with examples of relevant practices in these six countries. 1 Education Systems 1.1 Formal Education System In all six countries, two parallel education systems exist. The first is the formal educa- tion system which stretches from primary to tertiary education. The second is the lifelong learning system which provides educational opportunities to those who may not have completed formal education, especially beyond the secondary and tertiary levels; and for those who want to upgrade their academic qualifications or pro- A Cross Analysis of e-Learning for Lifelong Learning in Six Participating Countries of the e-ASEM White Paper Project 5 fessional competencies and skills for the ultimate aim of improving their quality of life. Generally speaking, the lifelong learning systems of all six sample countries involve three types of education, i.e. formal, informal and non-formal education. These two complementary systems are discussed in more detail in the following sections. All six participating countries demonstrate at least two similarities in their formal education systems. First, all six countries have similar structures; with six years of primary education, three years of lower secondary education, two years of upper secondary/high school education, one to two years of post-secondary education and three to four years of tertiary education. Another common feature is that this structure constitutes nine to 10 years of compulsory education. These two common features contribute to the larger goal of achieving universal literacy amongst the school-going age population and to prepare them with the necessary academic knowledge and skills to enter the labour market upon completing their studies. 1.2 Lifelong Learning System Despite the fact that formal education can be considered universal in its reach, there are still many individuals who do not complete formal education and need to acquire valuable qualifications and skills after leaving the system. In addition,