Education Networks: Expected Market- and Cost-Oriented Benefits

Abstract

Discussions about virtual universities, teleteaching or Internet-based learning usually concentrate on pedagogical or technical topics. Ideas and concepts about management, organization or profitability of Internet-based co-operations between universities are missing. This is remarkable due to the ongoing discussion about the efficiency of universities, especially in Germany. This chapter gives an example of an inter-university education network and presents the expected effects of co-operational activities. Both cost-oriented and market-oriented benefits are mentioned. Further on, actual cost- and market-oriented advantages are explained by using the case study of the education network WINFOLine. Finally the authors mention some problems and open questions about how to manage (open) education networks to initiate further discussion about this topic.