The Internet allows for rapid distribution of learning content, collaborative research, live interaction. It can multiply the resources of a local educational institution and enable it to drastically broaden its scope of its offerings.
In the Styrian Village of Kirchbach a five years field - trial was undertaken, more by chance than by plan, to use broadcasted lectures to gather and activate the local population. The scope of activities was considerable - from general university lectures to specialised events in biological farming, medicine and even theology. At first glance this came out as success, but at the high price of exhausting the local actors and not leading to a permanent offering.
Could a coordinated approach towards education like we see in Free Software change the fate of such pioneering efforts? Is the logic of cooperation stronger than the logic of monetisation? Is there a place and a chance for an association of learning places? What are the practical challenges? The speech will seek to raise many questions and answer some.