Economic Implications and Stakeholder Reactions in a Digital University Environment

Abstract

At present a substantial insecurity prevails about the future of eLearning and particularly about the future impact of digitalization on the educational sector. Those, who have been enthusiastic at the beginning are now more esceptical about the future development of teaching with digital media, others maintain their positive attitude and look for ways to promote and implement their use in the university. 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. We will raise instead some points to initiate a discussion about the economics of digital educational ressources and the possibile reaction and impact of teachers, students and institutions. We will point out also some long-term perspectives that digitalization of education might have on a global level.
Concluding we will argue that digitilization of educational content and the respective applications followed a continuous development pushed 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.