ISDN-based videoconferencing in Australian tertiary education

Given Australia's vast distances between cities, institutions, campuses and rural and remote centres, it is not surprising that Australian tertiary institutions are making growing use of videoconferencing. By July 1993, 22 of Australia's 35 public universities had videoconferencing facilities at 51 sites and most of the remaining universities were at some stage of planning to acquire systems. A further 20 sites were operational in the technical and further education (TAFE) sector with plans for further development in several states. The number of tertiary education sites may therefore easily become 80-100 in a short period of time. The most common form of videoconferencing involves two-way audio and two-way video transmitted as compressed digital signals via ISDN at 128 kbit/s. In July-September 1992, a survey team was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) to inquire into the adoption and use of videoconferencing in higher education in Australia and to make recommendations about the future potential of this technology in the light of Australian and overseas experience. The resultant report (Mitchell et al, 1992), which was part of a DEET Review of Modes of Delivery in Higher Education, is summarised and updated in this chapter.