Mohammed Santally
Two Decades of eLearning: The University of Mauritius Experience
The University of Mauritius embarked on the distance education experience in 1993 when the Centre for Distance Learning was setup to offer mainly what was termed as “On-Campus DE” at that time. The aim was to convert common modules offered to large cohorts on a self-learning modality. In 2001, to catch the e-Learning bandwagon, the Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning Technologies was established, with two key focus: integration of ICT in the teaching and learning system and promotion of the learn anytime, anywhere concept through online learning. In 2014 the University of Mauritius merged the two centres to setup the Centre for Innovative & Lifelong Learning to scale up the eLearning provision and to integrate it as a mainstream educational provision at the University.
In this presentation, we will look at the evolution of the eLearning initiative of the University of Mauritius from a historical perspective from three different activity lenses namely (i) teaching and learning; (ii) research and development and (iii) capacity-building for educational innovation. We will also look into the probable futures of such an initiative and the actions that are important to finally establish the University of Mauritius as a 21st Century Learning organisation.
Biography: Dr Mohammad Issack SANTALLY joined the University of Mauritius in 2001, as Research Assistant at the Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning Technologies (VCILT). He was subsequently appointed as Instructional Designer, in 2002 and Lecturer in 2005. In 2009 he was appointed as Officer-in-Charge of the VCILT and he was promoted to Associate Professor in the field of Education Technologies in 2014. He also served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Centre for Innovative and Lifelong Learning before being appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning & Resources) in April 2017.
He is an active researcher in the field of Education Technology and e-Learning and he has been involved in a number of regional consultancies for institutions like the Commonwealth of Learning, COMESA and SADC. In 2006 he was elected the “Outstanding Young Person of Mauritius”, and in 2010 he led the University of Mauritius to be awarded the prestigious Commonwealth of Learning Excellence Awards in Distance Education. He has worked on innovative learning methodologies such as the Rapid e-Learning Technique, which helps educators and practitioners to develop their own e-learning and interactive materials without high-end ICT skills. In collaboration with Microsoft and Commonwealth of Learning, he has been conducting a series of capacity-building workshops in South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, India, Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigues.
He has established an international network of professionals and researchers with the objective of promoting collaborative research and the internationalization of the University. In 2016, the University of Mauritius has launched an online Masters Top-Up programme with about 27 African students in Leadership Development in ICT and the Knowledge Society in collaboration with the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative, and a programme in Quality Assurance in Higher Education in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning with 15 participants from Qualification Authorities and Quality Assurance Agencies of different Commonwealth countries.