The question of different stakeholders is not simply one of language and projects have encountered different interests within host institutions. We note this not to draw attention to the organisational questions this raises but to point towards questions that projects will need to address as they progress and in particular as they move towards dissemination of project outputs.
The shifting pattern of provision of all kinds of resources in the entire institution will present itself to academic staff. Generally they will not be concerned with the political, organisational and technological issues that lie behind the situation but they are likely to be hesitant in the way they approach new initiatives if they cannot see a single stable solution to the problems they identify for their teaching and learning. This raises the important question of how projects can present their work as a component of the institutional e-learning strategy - a requirement for a coherent and compelling institutional vision.
The new DFES and HEFCE e-learning strategies are likely to encourage a more systematic approach to the development of institutional e-Learning strategies. Work linking digital libraries with VLEs will need to integrate well with the entire e-Learning strategy if it is to successfully address issues from the point of view of academic members of staff who may be key gatekeepers in such an initiative.
Towards a Unified e-Learning Strategy. The full DfES Consultation Document.
Consultation on HEFCE e-learning Strategy