Issues of e‐learning standards and identity management for mobility and collaboration in higher education

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate and report on the status of identity management systems and e‐learning standards across Europe for promoting mobility, collaboration and the sharing of contents and services in higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research work examines existing e‐learning standards and the tools and processes applied to managing the identity of learners registered for programmes of study in higher education. The paper draws on recent developments and argues that the creation of identity management federations is mandatory to provide the mobility of users and to permit the exchange of contents and services between institutions.

Findings

It is revealed that it is crucial to create identity management federation to provide for ease of mobility and facilitate collaboration and sharing information amongst staff and students in higher education.

Research limitations/implications

The challenges arising from language, culture and differences in systems for the regions require consideration. Future work intends to incorporate some of these issues, to examine and report on them from the diverse perspectives, taking into account, the impact of globalisation.

Originality/value

This paper presents the main features of e‐learning standards and how they can be used in conjunction with identity management systems to create collaborative learning objects repositories to promote a more effective learning experience and a more competitive European space for higher education, with respect to the requirements of knowledge‐based societies.

Citation

Alves, P. and Uhomoibhi, J. (2010), "Issues of e‐learning standards and identity management for mobility and collaboration in higher education", Campus-Wide Information Systems, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 79-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650741011033053