Applying Systems Thinking to
Higher Education
A SEMINAR
with
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS THINKERS & PRACTITIONERS
concerned with the design and development of
"Learning Systems"
Saturday, 12th July 1997
The Open University
Milton Keynes
Brenda Gourley (Vice Chancellor, University of Natal, South Africa & Chair
Association of Commonwealth Universities)
Bela Banathy (Saybrook Institute, California, USA)
Richard Bawden (Hawkesbury Centre for Systemic Development, Australia)
Susan Weil, Solar, UK
Diana Laurillard ( National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education [Dearing
Committee] & Pro-Vice Chancellor The Open University)
Geoff Peters (Pro-Vice Chancellor, The Open University)
Ray Ison (Professor of Systems, The Open University)
John Naughton (Systems Department, The Open University)
Dick Morris (Systems Department, The Open University)
Further details
Contact Jacqueline Eisenstadt on 01908 653528, fax: 01908 858407, email:
j.eisenstadt@open.ac.uk
Full programme: http://www.open.ac.uk/
Higher education in the UK is undergoing transition. But what type of
thinking is governing this change? Will the change be more of the same -
first order change - or will the whole system change - second order
change? In the UK the Dearing Review could be a major catalyst for this
change, but to what extent are its recommendations likely to reflect old
paradigms? How will government and universities respond to the
recommendations?
This interactive seminar is designed to introduce Systems thinking and
practices to a wider audience of professionals concerned with the
sustainability of the UKHE sector. The future of HE demands some radical
new approaches. The presenters at this seminar address whether this
radical approach can be achieved through systems thinking and action.
They have been responsible for, or involved in, creative and innovative
systemic approaches to teaching, researching and managing HE in the US,
Australia, UK, South Africa, India and many other countries of the world.
This workshop is hosted by The Systems Department at the Open University.
The department is the largest systems department in the UK and has
provided Systems courses to OU students for over 25 years. The Systems
group is recognised internationally for its development of systems course
materials. The seminar will be especially useful for University
administrators and academics concerned with formulating policy and shaping
the future of the sector and their institutions.
Bela H. Banathy
is President of the International Systems Institute and Professor Emeritus
of Systems Science at the Saybrook Graduate School, California. His
research, teaching, and publications focus on the development of systems
and design theories and methodologies and their application in social and
societal systems. He is President of the International Federation of
Systems Research and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the
International Society for the Systems Sciences. He serves on the
editorial boards of TSystems ResearchU, TSystems PracticeU, and TWorld
FuturesU. He has authored six books, a number of chapters in books, and
over a hundred articles and research reports. His TDesigning Social
Systems in a Changing WorldU has just been published by Plenum.
Richard Bawden
is Professor of Systemic Development, and Head of the Centre for Systemic
Development, University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury, Richmond, NSW,
Australia. At Hawkesbury he has headed an 18 year period of innovation in
student-centred curriculum development based around concepts of
experiential learning, action research and systems thinking. He has
consulted widely and headed and been a member of missions reviewing
university organisation for the Ford Foundation, USAID, the Asian
Development Bank and the Kellogg Foundation.
Brenda Gourley
the first woman Vice Chancellor of a South African University (the
University of Natal), has gone on record as claiming that Universities
need to become "learning organisations" and that this is best achieved
through pursuing a "systems approach".
Geoff Peters
is Pro-Vice Chancellor in charge of Strategy and Planning at the Open
University. He is a co-author of the acclaimed "Learning from failure -
the Systems Approach" and has been Dean, Faculty of Technology and chair
of the innovative courses on Human Factors and Systems Failures and
Complexity Management & Change at the OU.
Diana Laurillard
is Professor of Educational Technology in the Open University Institute
for Educational Technology and Pro-Vice Chancellor, Technology Development
at the OU. Diana's research on the role that technology can play in
enhancing student learning is recognised internationally. She is a member
of the Dearing ommittee currently reviewing HE in the UK.
Ray Ison
is Professor of Systems and Head of the Systems Department at the Open
University, and has experience of University-based learning systems
designed on (i) experiential and systemic learning (ii) traditional
"building block" curricula and (iii) supported open learning. His
research is concerned with the use of systemic action research and
second-order cybernetics to design and develop participatory and more
"organic" learning systems.
John Naughton and Dick Morris
Senior Lecturers in the Open University Systems Department, who have for
the last decade been co-chairs of the Faculty of Technology level one or
Foundation course. They have been largely responsible for the development
of the UniversityUs personal computing policy and for the expansion of
technologically mediated learning in the Open University. Last year they
took their complement of nearly 5000 students, representing the largest
online student population so far achieved.
The programme
The seminar will start at 10.00 with an opening paper in which the
systemic implications of the Dearing report will be posed. This will be
followed by a series of inputs from the invited speakers, after which
participants will break into small groups for discussions led by the
speakers. The day will complete with a plenary session for all
participants, and finish around 500 p.m.
Seminar fee
The cost for the day is #125 [no vat] - the fee includes attendance at the
event, documentation and lunch and refreshments. A limited number of
discounted places at #50 are available for research students working in
this area. OU rates are available on request.
Location
The venue is located approximately 4 miles from the MI motorway [Junctions
13 or 14] and 4 miles from Milton Keynes Intercity railway services.
Fuller directions will be sent to you on registration. Please indicate on
your booking form if you need details of overnight accommodation.
Reservation and Payment:
To reserve a place, phone Pat Shah on 01908 652918, or email
p.shah@open.ac.uk To secure your place, complete the tear off slip and
send with your payment to Pat Shah, Technology Faculty, Walton Hall,
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA. Fees should be received by 7th July to secure a
place. Cancellation terms: refunds are only available for cancellations
on full fees paid before 5th July. However, places can be substituted.
Further details
Contact Jacqueline Eisenstadt on 01908 653528, fax: 01908 858407, email:
j.eisenstadt@open.ac.uk#012#
Application form: Applying Systems Thinking to Higher Education
I would like to attend this seminar on 12th July at the Open University.
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If applying for a discounted place, please give details of your research area.
The organisers reserve the right to amend the programme if necessary.
--"J.Eisenstadt (Jacqueline Eisenstadt)" <J.Eisenstadt@open.ac.uk>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>