engleski

Educational institutions and long life learning in the context of new ICT trends

In early stages, information was comprehended as added value and development of ICT was almost exclusive domain of science driven projects and large business systems. Typical example is Internet which was created as an effort related to improvement of academic and strategic knowledge exchange. Today, we live in information society that is based on consumerism. Information and ICT are used as efficient way of promotion of new products and supplier induced demand. In such society education is marked by two characteristics: organizational lack of flexibility that does not respond to turbulent changes of environment and society, and more accessible knowledge base that is efficiently exploited thorough modern ICT infrastructure. That infrastructure is nowadays much better used by consumers than by providers (educational institutions). Constant craving of consumers for new technologies is evident through creation of virtual social networks that are still neglected as a potential for creation and coordination of long life learning programs. But exploitation of social networks requires drastic changes in organization and management of educational institutions as well as change in regulatory framework of existing educational systems. This paper explores potential of ICT in long life learning and necessary changes that educational institutions need to make in their organization. It stresses importance of both hard and soft organizational factors but as emphasis is on ICT, hard factors are explored in more detail.

Long life learning; ICT; McKinsey 7s model; information society

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