Organization - eLRC

The eLRC is based across three locations - the HE Academy, the University of Manchester and the University of Southampton. The ethos of the centre is based around the notion that “research problems” should come directly out of “operational problems” and that the research results are fed back in good time to bring operational benefits to the higher education community as a whole.

As a national level centre established by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the centre aims to identify and investigate research problems in the field of e-learning that are of strategic importance for the sector as a whole. In identifying such problems it needs to consider developments nationally and internationally and to ensure that common needs of institutions and developers in the national sector are addressed. This means that the centre focuses on generic problems of the sector and on problems that are identified as gaps or inhibitors for the delivery of a vision of e-learning as articulated in the key national level strategies related to e-learning. Additionally, it works to ensure that a vital research programme is supported by a strong base in the host institutions. In designing and executing a research programme it ensures strong strategic alignment with other initiatives both nationally and internationally.