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The University of Hamburg and The Open University, UK, are jointly organizing a conference together with the Section for Distance Education (AG-F) of the German Association for University Continuing and Distance Education (DGWF) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their collaboration. The confererence will take place on March 23 and 24, 2006 in Hamburg. The theme will be

The convergence of traditional and distance learning in a world of increasing diversity.

In the last 5-10 years e-learning developments at universities in Germany and the UK - indeed in Europe and worldwide - have influenced traditional and distance learning where before the developments were proceeding in parallel. The special features and experiences of both approaches need to be brought together for wider benefit. This is particularly appropriate if we are to address the needs of those who have not had the opportunity to study at higher education level before - wherever they may be. The diversity of the student body is both a challenge and something to be celebrated.

These issues will be covered in the papers relating to one of the following themes:

1. Traditional and/or distance learning over time
What kinds of developments have taken place in higher education in recent years in the areas of teaching and learning? How might traditional universities benefit from the experience of distance learning and vice versa?

2. Lowering barriers - opening access
What changes need to be made, if university education is to be opened to a more diverse cohort of students? What is the evidence of success and what are the implications for the admission process, quality and standards?

3. Student Support
What kind of support should we provide to students in university education in the context of lifelong learning and open access? How can it be designed and delivered? To what extent is the quality of student support defined? What are the mechanisms for assuring that quality? What are the implications for open access?

Programme committee:

Dr. Marion Bruhn-Suhr, Universität Hamburg, AWW, Local Representative of the OU
Prof. Dr. Joachim Loeper, Universität Koblenz-Landau, Vorsitzender der AG-F
Dr. Liz Manning, Open University
Prof. Dr. Rolf Schulmeister, Universität Hamburg, IZHD
Helmut Vogt, Universität Hamburg, AWW