Information Technology Online: A Knowledge Framework for Curriculum Externalisation

Faced with increasing competition for students and funds, Australian universities hope that innovative technologies will provide the capability to offer flexible learning pathways that meet the needs of current and future students. However, the application of such technologies to develop an IT (information technology) degree for online external delivery is a difficult and complex process with both technological and human dimensions. Adopting a knowledge framework and a systems thinking approach can help IT educators to better appreciate the significance of their efforts to date, and give direction to future initiatives. This framework and approach is presented in this study as a stakeholder analysis that identifies the key actors, together with their viewpoints and perceptions that influence the outcome of curriculum externalisation projects.