The Future of Education: In-Person Learning vs Distance Learning

The education landscape has undergone a dramatic shift, accelerated in response to the challenges presented by Covid. As technology advances, so too do the possibilities for delivering learning outside the traditional classroom. But because we can deliver education online, we must nevertheless ask if we should do and if so, in what circumstances and for whom?  

The University of London has long been a pioneer in the development of distance education, from the correspondence schools of the 19th century to the online learning programmes of today - always in the service of widening access to the University’s programmes. Online education has become mainstream in the post-pandemic era, in statutory as well as tertiary education.  This panel will consider what has been learned about teaching and students’ learning from this ‘natural’ experiment, and what questions it poses for education looking forward.   

About the speakers:

Amanda Spielman was Chief Inspector of Ofsted, the English inspectorate of schools and also of early years provision, skills education and children’s social care, for seven years from 2017, through the Covid years to 2023.

Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Under the 20 years of Paul’s direction, SNHU has grown from 2,500 students to over 225,000 learners and is the largest non- profit university in the country.

Sir Chris Husbands (Chair) is a university leader, academic and public servant who was Vice-Chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, one of the UK's largest and most diverse universities, from 2015 to 2023.

When: Wednesday 8th May, 18:30

Where: Chancellors Hall, Senate House, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HU

Event schedule:

18:00 - Doors open & drinks reception

18:30 - Event commences, including time for audience Q&A

20:00 – Event concludes

We look forward to welcoming you.