beyond pt 0 23/1

Section Ten
Education
The Internet (and all virtual
learning) has distinctive
powers to complement,
reinforce, and enhance some
of our most effective
traditional approaches. We
must not undervalue the
continued need for books
and other tangible
documents, or neglect the
irreducible importance of
sustained face to face
contact in learning. But
neither should we mistake
what is happening for a
mere fad or mirage and fail
to realise the transformation
possibilities of the new
technologies.
Neil L. Rudenstine, President,
Harvard University
10.1 Description of the sector
Education and training are significant in terms of the magnitude of
economic activity in its own right and the role that the sector plays at
large. These activities are particularly important as economic (and
individual) opportunity shifts towards knowledge—based and other
skill—intensive activities. This poses both challenges and opportunities
and exposes providers to increased competitive pressures from both
within and outside the sector. However, there are also great opportunities
for service providers as there are increasing demands and needs to move
to a knowledge—based economy, facilitated by rapid technological change.
Education expenditure in 199798 was $25.6 billion, or around
4.9 per cent of A ustralia’s GDP. As of May 1999, the industry employed
624 100 people. 25
The education sector can be broken down to three major categories.
• preschool and primary school;
• secondary school; and
• tertiary and other education.
The growth and widespread adoption of Internet technologies is
expected to impact on all education resources and delivery. Access to
computing resources is now a feature of education at all levels. At
present, however, the use of e-commerce appears most likely to have the
greatest impact on tertiary education and training, which is comprised
of three major elements:
• universities;
• vocational education and training; and
• postgraduate professional development.
10.2 Practical application of e-commerce
Universities and academic staff were early innovators regarding the
potential of the Internet. Most universities supplied the backbone
infrastructure for the Internet for years before it became a commercial
arena. In an activity were ideas and communication are central many
quickly grasped the significance and convenience of email.
Almost all universities in Australia have a site on the Internet that they
use to showcases their capabilities to potential students in Australia and
abroad. This is a major part of their positioning and the way that they are
viewed by many students is influenced by the usefulness of these sites.
Some universities are more proactive in their use of the potential of the
Internet as and educational and communications tool. The smaller
universities seem to be particularly innovative in this activity.
25 ABS Special Collections, 1999.
161