University of Adelaide's New Vice-Chancellor Plumps for Back to the Future. (August 26, 2012)

A couple of days ago The Australian's Stephen Matchett interviewed the newly installed vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Warren Bebbington, who told him that the internet coupled with wireless technology is changing the landscape of tertiary education.

To survive what is coming [universities] must learn from the laboratory sciences by framing questions that relate to public needs in society politics and business. Traditional research universities will become premium providers for uncodified experiential learning which can only be imparted in person, in small seminars. Knowledge is not just about collecting information and universities must be a place for credentialed experts... [and] students in every course must have a small seminar experience.

The traditional research university will become a premium provider for uncodified, experiential learning imparted in person.

Professor Bebbington told Mr Matchett that one way to do it is to provide lectures online and focus on small group teaching.

Seems as though Oxbridge may have got it right after all.