"All countries in the world are looking at ways to provide education online and in a digital format. This is the trend of education in the future, " said Christopher Boughton, Asia Pacific Managing Director of the Cambridge University Press, who was speaking to the Central News Agency during a visit to Taiwan to review Cambridge University Press local office operations.

He pointed out that the United Kingdom, for example, has provided funds to schools to purchase digital whiteboards to replace the traditional chalkboard, in addition to many other software and hardware.

"We will see a much more widespread use of computers and the internet when the now teenagers grow into adults and enter the workforce in our societies, " said Boughton. "They are well versed in computer and internet usage. To them, digital learning comes naturally. They are the so-called digital natives."

Boughton said Cambridge University Press, which published its first book in 1584, is also investing efforts in digitization of its publishing.

"Whatever we put out in print, we also have it online in digital form," said Boughton.

Although digitization is the worldwide trend, Boughton pointed out that there are digital gaps between developed and developing countries.

Boughton said the level of digitization in learning represents the degree of development for that country. He noted that there are significant differences in the availability and usage of computers between developing countries and highly developed countries.

Cambridge University Press was founded by a royal charter granted to the University of Cambridge by King Henry VIII in 1534. It is the oldest printer and publisher in the world, having been operating continuously since 1584, and is one of the largest academic publishers globally.

Its academic publishing includes around 200 journals and around 1,200 new books each year.

Its purpose is to further the University's objective of advancing learning, knowledge and research.