scholarly journals Distance Learning in Higher Education: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Paula Cacault ◽  
Christian Hildebrand ◽  
Jérémy Laurent-Lucchetti ◽  
Michele Pellizzari
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Live Streaming ◽  
Randomized Experiment ◽  
High Ability ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Random Events ◽  
Streaming Technology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Effective Design

Abstract Using a randomized experiment in a public Swiss university, we study the impact of online live streaming of lectures on student achievement and attendance. We find that (i) attending lectures via live streaming lowers achievement for low-ability students and increases achievement for high-ability ones; (ii) students use the live streaming technology only occasionally, apparently when random events make attending in class too costly, and (iii) offering live streaming reduces in-class attendance only mildly. These findings have important implications for the effective design of education policies.

scholarly journals Using interactive technologies and distance learning in sustainable education

2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 07003
Author(s):  
Anna Rybakova ◽  
Aleksandra Shcheglova ◽  
Denis Bogatov ◽  
Liudmila Alieva
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Interactive Technologies ◽  
Sustainable Education ◽  
The Impact

This paper focuses on the use of interactive technologies and distance learning in sustainable education. It discusses how remote learning technologies can positively influence students’ learning and entry in sustainable education. The paper looks at the use of distance learning in higher education as a means to help students in the built environment and its use within the education system. It studies and expands the theoretical research on the benefits of distance learning, where the study is remote and there is no personal contact with staff or students, and examines the impact of distance learning on the student’s learning experience. It also proposes and evaluates potential solutions to overcome the barriers to learning in the built environment and create successful virtual learning communities, recognising that such improvements must be reconciled with the primary benefits identified. The paper provides an overview of sustainable distance learning within higher education and discusses the differences between learning outside the structural environment of a profession, what it means for the student’s learning experience and the potential to overcome barriers to distance learning. This is a very timely topic in the times of COVID-10 pandemic. Lockdowns of the economy and social life impacted all spheres of education with schools and universities closed for long periods of time and all teaching moved to online and distance mode. However, coronavirus pandemic also brought the digital surge in the system of education, including the sustainable education. All these innovations might stay after the pandemic and help the education to evolve and to embrace more novel trends and technologies.

scholarly journals Higher Education Policies and Employability of University Graduates in the EU-28

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-133
Author(s):  
Elena Pelinescu ◽  
Mihaela Simionescu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
High Education ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Value Added ◽  
European Countries ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective: The main purpose of this research is to analyze and reveal if the recent policy measures in higher education carried in European Union member countries have had a significant impact on the labour market integration of university graduates. Methodology: We selected a set of indicators that were common in the 2015 and 2016 editions of Structural Indicators for Monitoring Education and Training Systems in Europe and could offer an image of intensity of higher education policies in relation with labour market at European level. We further used these measures to test for any significant effects of the policies on the integration of graduates in the labour market. Findings: We found significant effects of various policy measures in high education in the European countries. We estimate a positive role for factors like monitoring of completion rates, requirements for the staff to have higher education, presence of educational guidelines, and recognition of formal and informal learning for entry in higher education. Value Added: This is the first study to address the impact of high education policies carried in European countries on the integration of college graduates. The study is distinct through both the design of new measures of higher education policy in Europe as well through testing whether the intensity of policies carried for higher education has affected the employability of young graduates or not. Recommendations: The results of this empirical research allow us to make some recommendations for improving the insertion of young graduates on European labour market.

scholarly journals How COVID-19 Has Exacerbated Inequality in Higher Education in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Private Higher Education ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Retention In Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Drawing on educational census data and a review of news articles and higher education policies in Brazil, this article examines the impact of COVID-19 on the access and retention of the low-income Brazilian population in higher education. Guided by the question, “What is the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable population in Brazil in terms of access to, and retention in higher education?”, the paper is structured in two sections: the first offers a short historical overview of Brazilian higher education; the second examines the impact of the pandemic on student retention in higher education, looking at factors such as social isolation, job and income precarity, use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), internet access, and technological resources. I argue that distance education offered by private higher education institutions benefits the privileged students and that the effects of the pandemic are detrimental to the socially disadvantaged students since those who are in public universities do not always have access to technology, and those who study in private universities feel the impact of not being able to pay tuition fees, besides the loss of several jobs in different sectors. In conclusion, I recommend policy initiatives to improve access to higher education.

scholarly journals Importance of Websites in Open and Distance Learning: A Study of Priorities and Expectations of Mass Communication Students from their Institutions’ Websites

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 439
Author(s):  
Poonam Gaur
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Interactive Nature ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Distance Educators

<div><p><em>Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has very crucial role in our higher education. According to Distance Education Bureau, UGC; approx. 23.50% of the total higher education enrolment comes from distance education but this mode has been facing few major challenges since the time of its inception. ‘Distance’ is the biggest challenge for ODL. Distance educators have been trying to overcome this issue with the help of technology. ICT is the most appropriate solution. The interactive nature of this technology can minimize the impact of ‘distance’. Website is one of the most important tool of ICT. This study talks about the priorities and expectations of ODL mass communication students from the Websites of their Institutions. The paper highlights the different characteristics and features of an effective website from the ODL learners’ point of view</em>.</p></div>

Exploring the Impact of Digital Learning Platforms on Distance Learning Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 150-164
Author(s):  
Omar Mohamed Ali Albakri ◽  
Abubakar Albakri
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Learning Management Systems ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
The Impact

Higher education has been shifting to learning management systems (LMS) for decades. Some universities, like the Open University, have managed to gain international recognition by providing undergraduate degrees to students in different countries. However, in moments of emergency and international disruption higher education institutions need to adapt at unprecedented speed. This chapter focuses on the use of technology in moments of extreme internationalised interference. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a ground for change, students enrolled in presential courses in Spain, Malta, and the United Kingdom were interviewed in order to understand how they are coping with having contact with their academic life exclusively online. The students' impressions, LMS software, and results (assignments and exams) were also discussed. Finally, the chapter analyses the solutions provided by lecturers and students.

scholarly journals The Impact of Distance Learning Requirements in Achieving Learning Outcomes During COVID- 19 Pandemic A study at Private Jordanian universities

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 6446-6451
Author(s):  
Dr. Basem Barqawi, Dr. Sahar Abu Bakir
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Distance Learning System ◽  
The Impact ◽  
New Situation

Despite that the system of higher education has been greatly affecting during the crisis of COVID-19, the Higher Education institutions forced to adapt to the new situation quickly and change the models of education from traditional system to distance learning system because of the increasing of student enrollments. Although there are different systems of Distance Learning which helps students get their education, still doubts of achieving the planed learning outcomes. The aim of this paper is to try understand the most requirements needed to build a good distance learning system, and to know the impact of distance learning requirements in achieving learning outcomes during COVID-19 at the private Jordanian universities. The results revealed that the Jordanian Private Universities operating at Amman are aware of the importance of distance learning requirements (The Human Resources, the Infrastructure, the Academic, the Financial, and the Managerial). And the learning outcomes (the knowledge, skills and competencies) were achieved by using distance learning as a substitute of face to face education. For this purposes a purposive sample was selected consisted of (11) Universities that are operating at AmmanGovernorate, and the sampling unit was consisted of those who occupied the positions of dean and head of academic department in the (11) universities, and their number reached (235). The most important recommendation of this paper is to strengthen the human resources, the infrastructure and the academic requirements, and to get attention more to the financial and the managerial requirements on achieving leaning outcomes.  

scholarly journals Balancing between accountability and autonomy: the impact and relevance of public steering mechanisms within higher education

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomi J. Kallio ◽  
Kirsi-Mari Kallio ◽  
Mira Huusko ◽  
Riitta Pyykkö ◽  
Jussi Kivistö
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Institutional Autonomy ◽  
University Autonomy ◽  
Education Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Higher Education Policies ◽  
Steering Mechanism ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis article studies the tensions between universities' accountability and autonomy in response to the demands of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachDemonstrating the tension between accountability and autonomy, the impact and relevance of public steering mechanisms coordinating higher education are studied via a survey with selected representative Finnish universities. The response rate was an exceptionally high 94%. In addition to the statistical analysis of the survey, open-ended questions were also analyzed to give a more in-depth understanding of the findings. The study uses paradox theory and institutional complexity as its theoretical lenses.FindingsThe empirical analysis of this study shows a considerable gap between the experienced impact and the experienced relevance of the steering mechanisms in higher education. The authors’ further analysis of the open-ended data shows that indicator-based funding allocation has undermined the perceived university autonomy. The authors highlight the paradoxical tensions of university autonomy and higher education institutions' steering mechanisms' requirement for accountability. Finding an acceptable balance between accountability and institutional autonomy plays an important role in designing higher education policies.Originality/valueThe authors found that even if a steering mechanism is experienced as impactful, it is not necessarily considered relevant. One of the key aspects in understanding the reasons behind this mismatch is related to university autonomy. Most impactful steering mechanisms become considered less relevant because they also endanger institutional autonomy. In this sense, it could be expected that steering mechanisms should better balance accountability and autonomy.

scholarly journals The impact of the Covid-19 disruption on distance learning higher education students and activities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Aristeidou ◽  
Simon Cross
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Background Characteristics ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
The Impact

Higher education institutions are increasingly concerned about the impact of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on students and learning activities. Yet, we know little about the effect of this disruption, specifically on students in distance learning higher education institutions. This study drew from survey responses of 555 undergraduate students at The Open University, UK. The aims of this study were to understand the impact of the Covid-19 disruption on learning, assessment and social activities that distance learning students commonly undertake and to explore how this impact relates to their background characteristics (socio-demographics and study properties). Findings showed that overall, students engaged in their study activities less frequently, with learning-related activities (e.g., joining live sessions) having the highest negative impact and social activities (e.g., accessing email for study purposes) the lowest. Female students were more likely than male to engage less across all three activity categories. Background characteristics, such as age, faculty and race, were associated with particular activity categories. This study is the first step towards enhancing our understanding of the engagement of distance learning, but also campus-based students in emergency distance learning, in online learning activities during the Covid-19 pandemic and other similar disruptions.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned Regarding Distance Learning in Lebanese Higher Education Institutions

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1259
Author(s):  
Maha Mouchantaf
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Impact

In the past few months, due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, most educational establishments in Lebanon, including schools and higher education institutions, made the transition to distance learning. This research sought to explore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges that it currently poses to higher education. More specifically, it aimed to evaluate the views of language teachers with regards to online teaching to better understand both its advantages and disadvantages in comparison to face-to-face education. The study also offered insight on the educator’s feedback and their presented solutions that will lead to a better experience with online learning. A quantitative cross-sectional online survey was implemented for the purpose of this study.

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