from American universities. LEB reports to have 2 courses. The focus is on science, ethics, 

and economy. The target groups are students and teachers. 

Nordisk Netthogskole [3] (

http://www.nnhs.com

) is a collaborative project between 

Scandinavian providers of web based courses. The project partners are Nettskolen 

(

http://www.nettskolen.com

) in Norway, Goteborg University (

http://www.vu.gu.se/

) in 

Sweden, and The Graphic Arts Institute of Denmark (

http://www.dgh.dk/

). 

Some general statements in the interviews and catalogue indicated international initiatives: 

   TDC, Tecnologias de Comunicacao <74>, is a private company owned by the Portugal 

Telecom Group. The distance training offer of TDC varies depending on target group 

needs and facilities. TDC works closely with the PALOPS (Portuguese Speaking 

Countries), namely in Africa with Mozambique, Guine Bissau, S.Tome and Principe, 

Cabo Verde, and Angola. 

   CAFE MONDIAL [38] is a European Consortium of universities, colleges, and private 

institutions providing professional training via the web. The consortium emerged from an 

EU telematics Applications Project. 

   The University of Twente [56] has a Masters of Science in Education Training and 

Systems Design for international (non Dutch) students that makes heavy use of the web, 

including for distance participation. 

The globalization of online education is a much discussed issue, but only a few of the 

interviews included comments on globalization in the conclusions and future plans: 

   Digito Formacao <73> in Portugal. The web is an excellent tool for globalization. 

   Universidade Virtual <19> in Brazil. Globalization is happening. In the future, there will 

be a better promotion of networks in the sense of distance education networks that share 

know how and the international contacts will become channels for exchanging 

information. 

   TRAINET <51> in Italy. Globalization   the use of internet and information society tools 

is not a global thing. In fact, in the US and Europe, the use is current but the same cannot 

be said for Africa. The use will grow, but again not in a homogeneous way. 

   UNED <80> in Spain. The future will bring facilities in several aspects, namely in the 

diffusion of materials, in the access of updated information (we will be able to know what 

the others are doing at a global scale). 

   The Open University of Hong Kong <28>. In Hong Kong we use the web for commerce. 

For education students still want print and not a computer monitor. Submission of 

assignments via the web is of growing importance. The web is very important for 

geographic extension of our courses to China. It is very convenient to deliver the materials 

via the web rather than shipping them. 

Some statements with regard to tutoring also indicated some global perspectives: 

   <27> Tutors are supplied from the course team, but adjunct faculty around the world are 

also used. Twenty students are assigned to each tutor. 

   <102> Tutors make overseas teaching visits and there is a residential weekend for the 

M.Sc. course. 

45