JITOL oust In Time Open Learning) as a project under the DELTA programme was particularly aiming at professional training and upgrading in specified fields. Participation in the project gave valuable experiences with electronic networks and distribution of learning material. A growing interest in flexible learning led to the establishment of a new, national project, NITOL (Norwaynet with IT for Open Learning, 1994-95) that applies the Jitol concept within higher education.Four Norwegian universities and colleges have pined forces in offering courses for credits, online on the academic network, Norwaynet. The combination of electronic conferences and mail systems with attachment/appendix facilities, gives a synergy effect for academic staff and students at the four institutions involved, as well as for groups or individuals that join the electronic learning environment through INTERNET or by private modems. This may be regarded as a continuance of the JITOL activities.
Four Norwegian higher educational institutions—the University Colleges at Agder, Stord/Haugesund, and Sør-Trøndelag, and the University in Trondheim (NTNU)—had all participated in a European collaborative project on open learning, that is, JITOL (Just- In-Time Open Learning, 1992-1994) under the Delta program of the European Community. Building on experiences from this and other related projects, representatives from the four institutions decided to propose a national experiment along the same principles. Support was granted from a governmental agency, SOFF, and NITOL (Norway-net with IT for Open Learning) was established in April 1994. NITOL was in the beginning an open learning project for the training of students, teachers, IT professionals, and others. Research and development activities, particularly focusing on distribution of courses and learning material, required some “guinea pigs” to gain experience in the field. The project group therefore invited a group of around 30 students to participate in the experiment—and found that there was possibly a large potential for business, expanding the experimental group and perhaps demanding student fees for participation and examination.
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