An online system that designs out informal communication may eliminate the most important and creative aspect of social organisations. At a university one important form of interaction is in the common room. Resources are expended on such areas because they provide a way for people to talk to each other. Having informal online discussion is possible but this takes resources and deliberate work to design. We need the online equivalent of comfortable chairs, where people can sit and chat.
Valuable information is communicated informally in such an environment.
Link developed over the years into the key mailing list for IT and Internet-related issues. Just as students learn social communication skills at a physical university, they will need to learn online social skills at a virtual university. Australia's business and government workers are largely lacking in these skills and one major benefit of the online university may be to fill a skill gap that is impeding e-commerce. Students of the University of Australia Online will still need to meet in person on a campus for some courses. The ALP envisages existing physical university campuses being used.