Distance learning courses in higher education on average consume 90 per
cent less energy and produce 90 per cent fewer climate-changing carbon
dioxide emissions than conventional campus-based courses , according to new
research from the Open University.
But the research also indicates that using the internet to help deliver
distance learning courses does not offer environmental benefits.
The better environmental performance of distance learning over campus-based
courses is mainly due to a major reduction in the amount of student travel,
economies of scale in use of the campus site and the elimination of much of
the energy consumption of students' housing.
The team compared the environmental impacts of three different methods of
providing higher education courses:
? conventional campus-based courses (at seven English, one Scottish and one
Irish university);
? a mainly print-based, supported open learning course offered by the Open
University;
? a mainly electronically taught and tutored, supported open learning
course, also offered by the Open University.
"This study provided for the first time comprehensive information about the
environmental impacts of various ways of providing higher education
courses," said Prof Robin Roy, of the university's Faculty of Technology,
who undertook the work with researchers Dr Stephen Potter and Karen Yarrow.
"Of course, we recognise that environmental impacts should not be the only
criteria for choosing a particular mode of provision ? far from it ? but
would urge that these impacts are considered when those choices are made."
The team found that e-learning courses may not offer any environmental
advantages over print-based supported open learning courses. The partial e-
learning course surveyed involved energy use and emissions that were 20 per
cent higher than the mainly print-based course.
"We found this was largely due to high student use of computing,
consumption of paper for printing web-based material and extra home heating
during night-time internet access," added Dr Potter. Those findings have
prompted the team to investigate in more depth the environmental impacts of
e-learning courses.
The report arising from the research is titled Towards Sustainable Higher
Education: Environmental impacts of conventional campus, print-based and
electronic distance/open learning systems. Copies, at £25 each, are
available from the Secretary, Design Innovation Group, Faculty of
Technology (D&I), The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA;
or by calling 01908 653970 or by emailing [log in to unmask]
EDITOR'S NOTES
Journalists who require a complimentary copy of the research report are
asked to call Neil Coaten in the university's media relations team on 01908
652580 or email [log in to unmask]
MEDIA CONTACTS
Neil Coaten Open University Media Relations
01908 652580
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