Will Universities become extinct?

In the presentation for 21st ICDE World Conference by Terry Hilsberg named “Will Universities become extinct in the Networked World?” among other themes the low end disruption by internet upon higher education industry is discussed. One of the most interesting conclusions (at least to me because of having the same thoughts before) is:
“Value will be moved to assessment and support from content. Pay for examinations and academic support not content”.

Ad-hoc Education in PC Week/RE

PCWeek/RE опубликовал статью про Ad-hoc Education. Огромное спасибо всем, кто соучавствовал на всех предыдущих этапах перед этой публикацией.

Global University System

Thanks to Roman Schastlivtsev I searched for any similar ideas to ad-hoc education in scientific domain. I mean I looked through scientific publications. The stuff that I've found on the surface: Global University System.

From one of the available abstracts on this system:

The Global University System (GUS) is a worldwide initiative to create telecommunications infrastructure for access to educational resources across national and cultural boundaries for global peace. GUS aims to create a worldwide consortium of universities to provide the underdeveloped world with access to 21st Century education via Internet technologies.

The GUS works in the major regions of the globe with partnerships of higher education and healthcare institutions. Learners in these regions will be able to take their courses from member institutions around the world to receive a GUS degree. These learners and their professors from partner institutions will also form a global forum for exchange of ideas and information and for conducting collaborative research and development with emerging global GRID computer network technology. The aim is to achieve "education and healthcare for all," anywhere, anytime and at any pace.

A lot of ideas there seems to be great. But unfortuntely I have not found any progress on this activities (maybe I tryed in too glance way).

South Africa Example

In the interview with Taddy Blecher by Peter Day on BBC World Service I've heard about a very radical and simple idea (and the implementation) of a University that runs on no money.
A news article - "University for South Africa's poor" on this topic is here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4092130.stm

The article begins as follows:

Five years ago, from his office in Johannesburg in South Africa, without any university buildings, courses or staff, he began faxing out a letter of invitation to 350 schools.

He asked the brightest and poorest students to apply for a new university - and promised them the "best business education in Africa".

This was going to be South Africa's first free university, created to serve talented youngsters from the poor black communities who could never afford to send their children to the established universities.

The letter struck a chord - and because the only address on the letter was the place where Dr Blecher was working - would-be students began gathering outside the plush consultancy offices.