eMM Benchmarking at Southampton:the carpet, observations and reflections

Abstract

The University of Southampton was one of a group of UK universities to benchmark e-learning in 2007. We used the eLearning Maturity Model (eMM) developed by Marshall at the University of Victoria, New Zealand. The findings of the benchmarking confirmed that the current version of the University’s eLearning Strategy had identified a comprehensive set of objectives in its action plan. The methodology was generally found to be workable, and the outputs useful for informing institutional decision making. However, it was found that the methodology might need some fine tuning in order to be more relevant to a predominantly campus-based, research intensive institution. The report provides an overview of the process, key findings, and reflections on the process. It can be used to inform institutional discussions of educational strategy, and at a local level by academic schools reviewing current practice in order to help determine local strategic objectives for curriculum development, teaching and the support of learning, particularly in reference to the use of eLearning.