The image of e-learning: Perceptions about a Chilean university and the e-learning system in the context of Chile

The purpose of this research is to determine the image of a Chilean university, as perceived by those inside and outside of the institution, in contrast with the general image of the e-learning system in Chile. The internal perceptions are those of current students and graduates of this Chilean university, while the external perceptions are those of businessmen and the target audience of e-learning, considered as adults between 26-55 years of age. The research is based on a mixed methodology, which addresses the stated problem through quantitative and qualitative methods. Closed and open-ended surveys were given to a sample of students and graduates of this Chilean university, as well as businessmen and the target audience. Interviews with specialists from the educational field were also conducted for complementing and deepening the understanding of the phenomenon of e-learning in Chile. Regarding the perceptions that students and graduates of this university have of it, the results of the research indicated that those who have experimented online education agreed in the positive features of the system, and valued it over the traditional one. On the other hand, the perceptions that businessmen and the target audiences of e-learning have about this system in Chile is not so categorical: it is a form of teaching-learning known by businessmen, and the extended but not all target audience. The majority of both samples expressed perceiving no difference between online versus on campus education. Even though only a minority continued appreciating face to face education over e-learning, in the case of having to select the educational modality, everyone in the target audience would not choose a program provided online. Finally, the image of this Chilean university when compared with perceptions of the e-learning system in general in Chile seems equivalent by the experts. It is a well known university as the e-learning system is, but not yet recognized by this format of content delivery, as it happens with the public validation of the academic quality of the online. E-learning is still in an incipient stage in the general education field in Chile, and it is necessary to look forward to the accreditation of e-learning as an effective educative system in the 21st century.