For a long time, e-learning and e-teaching in Higher Education was put into practice mainly in the context of funded projects. Nowadays e-learning has more and more a strategic significance and the use of digital media affects many fields at universities.
When considering project management in the context of
e-learning, it is important to note that e-learning can be implemented at many very different
levels, from small projects with individual participants within a department to
centrally managed projects on the university level as well as numerous joint projects across
multiple universities.
The range of project activities has changed over time, partly due to various political incentives.
Whereas in the early phase of e-learning implementations at universities the main interest was on projects with a pedagogic focus run by individual teachers, the next phase in German speaking areas focussed on the integration of e-learning on an organizational level.
Special emphasis is given to topics such as strategy and university development.
Policy developments such as the Bologna reform play an important role in this.
The chapter on organization is, on the one hand, about the typical issues of management of e-learning projects including resource management, public relations, and knowledge management.
Another topic gaining importance is digital rights management, which is covered in detail here.
Along side these topics, this chapter examines organizational matters in e-learning integration on the university level. Read the subchapters on personnel development, sustainability, and business models for details.
The political framework around e-learning plans at universities in German speaking areas as well as in Europe is outlined under “Political Factors”.
In addition to theories, "Case Studies" offer an opportunity to gain insight into e-learning implementation strategies of various universities.
