Educational logistics
“Educational logistics” is the collective term for a range of processes, systems, and information flows that allow higher education institutions to operate in a streamlined manner.
It involves processes such as the following:
- Registering students;
- Describing what the institution offers educationally: the range of programmes, courses, and training sessions, with access to all that information;
- Planning and scheduling;
- Supervising students, both at the institution itself and when they are on work placement;
- Progress management: keeping track of students’ learning process and the way their competencies develop;
- Tests and examinations.
Flexibility required
The educational logistics at higher education institutions needs to become increasingly flexible. Why is that?
- The current trend in the education sector is towards demand-driven education (see the scenarios for the future that SURF has set out). Students today are increasingly formulating their own “learning demand”. This means that they are charting their own learning track to a greater or lesser extent, for example with competency-oriented education.
- The range of programmes, courses, and training sessions on offer is becoming ever more varied.
- Students entering higher education have a wide variety of backgrounds, previous education, and wishes. The institutions therefore have to take account of exemptions, “APL” (“Accreditation of Prior Learning”), and specific wishes regarding the nature and content of the education provided.
- Students can increasingly enter their programme at a number of different points during the academic year.
- Students wish to study abroad.
In order to make all this possible, the education institutions need to have flexible processes in place as regards educational logistics. This requires specific ICT support.
Topical theme
Educational logistics is a topical theme for virtually all the institutions, which is why SURFfoundation is devoting considerable attention to it. The processes involved affect the concerns and activities of Organising with ICT, in particular architecture, standards and governance. The focus for many of the activities dealt with by SURFfoundation’s Organisation platform is therefore on educational logistics.
More information
Wouter de Haan, Programma Manager
T +31 (0)30 234 6600