Asia–Pacific research and publication in BJET: a progress report

Colin Latchem is an Australian consultant in open and distance learning, the author of several books on distance education and educational technology and the BJET Asia–Pacific Corresponding Editor. Address for correspondence: Colin Latchem, 2 Sherwood Road, Dalkeith, WA 6009, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Email: clatchem@ iinet.net.au The expansion of education is seen as critical to economic growth in the Asia–Pacific and far exceeds that in the rest of the world. However, while the region houses two-thirds of the world’s population, excluding such high-income countries as Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, it only has 3% of the global wealth. Alternative means of delivery are therefore an indispensable and integral part of educational development. The region has the world’s largest number of distance learners, 70 open universities, several ‘mega-universities’ and an increasing number of public and private conventional, virtual and international distance and online providers. Also, in the University of the South Pacific, created and funded by 12 small island nations, it has one of the world’s two regional dual-mode universities. Information and communications technology (ICT) integration is also occurring in open and conventional schooling, workplace training and basic and adult education. Where the technology and infrastructure are lacking or too costly, considerable ingenuity is shown in bridging the digital divide. Similar to the proverbial dragon’s teeth, once planted, these ideas and applications are multiplying