Planning for Open and Distance Learning in India

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
M. M. Ansari

Improvement in the entrepreneurial capacity of the working population through education and training is a sine qua non for raising productivity-linked earnings and quality of life. The educational development of deprived groups and regions is therefore a matter of serious concern for policy planners, especially in countries like India which have a federal structure and a democratic polity Of the available educational methods, open and distance learning (ODL) is considered to be the cheapest and most accessible, due mainly to its innovative and flexible characteristics that allow appropriate media choices for student-centred approaches to teaching and learning. ODL extends the benefits of new knowledge and technical know-how and is thus a powerful instrument in the equalization of educational opportunities and in broadening the base of human capital formation. Against this background, the performance of ODL in India over the past four decades is reviewed. The author analyses the evidence and demonstrates the extent to which ODL has succeeded in improving access and equity in the provision of services. The factors that help or hinder in extending the reach of education among deprived groups and regions are identified, and the implications for policy planning are discussed. The implementation of the recommended policy measures would contribute to the educational development of disadvantaged groups, raise the overall competence levels and earnings of the working population, improve the quality of life, and reduce disparities. These goals are critical to ensure social harmony, political stability and sustainable development.

Open Praxis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Juliet Obhajajie Inegbedion

The quality of the programmes and courses in ODL depends on the academics that plan the programmes, develop the curriculum, manage courses and programmes and carry out administrative duties. It is observed that the academics often complain of work overload. It also appears there is a mix-up in integrating the mode of planning workload in the conventional universities into the open and distance education universities. This may be attributed to inadequate spread in the duties assigned, which if not checked could affect the quality of teaching and learning. This necessitated the study that was carried out to determine academic workload in NOUN. The findings revealed a gap between academic activities and adequate utilisation of time. Also, inadequate spread of activities affects the quality of the academic inputs. This led to the development of academic workload model to guide the spread of academic activities in open and distance learning.


Author(s):  
Henrik Scander ◽  
Maria Lennernäs Wiklund ◽  
Agneta Yngve

Commensal meals seem to be related to a better nutritional and metabolic health as well as an improved quality of life. The aim of this paper was to examine to what extent research was performed using the search term commensality related to assessment of timing of meals. A scoping review was performed, where 10 papers were identified as specifically addressing the assessment of timing of commensality of meals. Time use studies, questionnaires, and telephone- and person-to-person interviews were used for assessing meal times in relation to commensality. Four of the studies used a method of time use registration, and six papers used interviews or questionnaires. Common meals with family members were the most common, and dinners late at night were often preferred for commensal activities among the working population. In conclusion, the family meal seemed to be the most important commensal meal. It is clear from the collected papers and from previous systematic reviews that more studies of commensal meals in general and about timing aspects in particular and in relation to nutritional health are essential to provide a solid background of knowledge regarding the importance of timing in relation to commensal meals.


Hypertension ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazia M Guerra ◽  
Chao L Wen ◽  
Margarida Vieira ◽  
Isabela Fistarol ◽  
Miriam H Tsunemi ◽  
...  

Introduction: The approach known as ‘ embracement ’ adopts relational strategies or soft technologies which promote bonding and may impact therapy adherence Objectives: To assess the influence of the religiosity in the embracement approach on therapy adherence, quality of life, in hypertensive outpatients. This approach may be associated or not with the use of educational technology in a virtual learning environment(VLE) for distance learning (DL). Methods: This was a prospective randomized clinical study conducted with the following 3 groups of hypertensive patients: Group A (n=16, 12 women, mean age of 55.3±13 years, mean BMI of 32.3±6 kg/m 2 , receiving individual orientation required by an embracement strategy characterized by 7 nursing visits at 20-day intervals, for 4 months); Group VLE (n=10, 7 women, mean age of 51.5±7 years, mean BMI of 29.4±6 kg/m 2 ,using a technological education strategy for DL and making 7 nursing visits at 20-day intervals, for 4 months); Control group (n=10, 5 women, mean age of 57.6±9 years, mean BMI of 29.7±6 kg/m 2 , making 1 nursing visit at baseline and 1 after 120 days.) At baseline and after 120 days, the following tools were applied: the Morisky test, WHOQOL, Religion Index (DUREL), and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The VLE group had remote access to the ‘ Hypertension E-Care ’ site (6 specific educational modules). Results: At baseline, there were no differences in clinical blood pressure, ABPM, and socio-demographic variables among the 3 groups. At the final assessment, the VLE group (44.4±0.4) showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in the social domain of quality of life when compared to group A (40.8±4) and the controls (41.9±3);groups. In therapy adherence (Morisky test), the VLE group showed significant improvement at the end of the study, which was not the case with the other two groups. The significant correlations were observed between index of religiosity and the differences of BP Office for SBP R = - 0.667 , (p = 0.035 - negative correlation) and for DBP R =-0.666 (p = 0.035 - negative correlation) in VLE Group. Conclusion: This study shows that religious belief can improve blood pressure control, specifically when associated with education technology.


Author(s):  
Trish Andrews

The growth of e-learning, particularly distance learning via e-learning, is widely recognised as a significant factor influencing higher education in the 21st century. The rapid and ongoing uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for teaching and learning, along with the recognition that increased student engagement can lead to more effective learning, is changing the way in which teaching and learning occurs in universities. This chapter suggests that the distance learner is frequently overlooked in the current climate when it comes to consideration of student needs and that current applications of ICT for distance learning raises questions about the quality of their learning experience. The chapter discusses the role of the student voice in understanding and addressing students’ needs in relation to the quality of their learning experience and suggests that greater attention needs to be paid to the distinct voice of the distance education student. The chapter provides some methodologies for collecting the student’s voice and gives consideration to how addressing the distance learners’ voice to enhance their learning experience might be most effectively accomplished.


Author(s):  
Vimbi Petrus Mahlangu

The purpose of this chapter is to argue that all open and distance learning (ODL) institutions should carry out quality assurance and accreditation processes in order for students and funders to have confidence in them. It also explains in detail what quality assurance and accreditation entails in ODL. This chapter follows a qualitative approach in understanding quality assurance and accreditation in ODL. Data were collected via literature review. During recent decades, the discourse and practices of systematic quality assurance and quality control have spread around the world, resulting to a great extent in market-based models related to the ideology and policy of neo-liberalism and expressed in economic rationalities such as new public management, total quality management, public choice, and human capital. Quality assurance and accreditation in ODL aims to maintain and raise the quality of education and to guarantee the improvement of its standards.


Author(s):  
Amir Manzoor

Today, open and distance-learning universities are regarded as a groundbreaking option to expand access to higher education. Economies of scale supported by a large number of enrolments have fueled the growth of open and distance learning institutions (ODLIs) across the globe. At the same time, many have raised serious concerns about the quality of education provided by ODLIs. This chapter presents a comparative case analysis of quality assurance (QA) programs in distance education at two large open and distance learning universities in Pakistan. The study explored QA policies and their implementation in the context of management practices and structures and internal and external environmental factors.


Worldview ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 26-29
Author(s):  
Hubert H. Humphrey

We have been waging a battle to improve the quality of life in the developing world for twenty-five years. Today this battle is being lost. As the world's military powers seek to reduce the risks of nuclear holocaust, new dangers to political and economic stability have arisen.The threat of widespread famine is on the increase. Fertilizer shortages grow, and the affluent continue to consume a disproportionate amount of the world's food resources. Worldwide inflation continues to take a heavy toll on the developing and the developed countries alike. This erodes political stability and depletes what little hard currency the poor nations have amassed.


Author(s):  
David Olugbenga Ojo ◽  
Felix Kayode Olakulehin

In the West African Region of Africa, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is the first full fledged university that operates in an exclusively open and distance learning (ODL) mode of education. NOUN focuses mainly on open and distance teaching and learning system, and delivers its courses materials via print in conjunction with information and communication technology (ICT), when applicable. This 'single mode' of open education is different from the integration of distance learning system into the face- to- face teaching and learning system, which is more typical of conventional Universities in Nigeria and other parts of the world. Thus, NOUN reflects a novel development in the provision of higher education in Nigeria. This study assesses the attitudes and perceptions of distance teaching and learning by students enrolled in the NOUN and of the National Teachers' Institute (NTI) compared to their experiences at conventional universities. One hundred and twenty (n = 120) randomly selected NOUN and NTI students of NOUN were the subjects of the study. The Students' Attitude and Perception Rating of Open and Distance Learning Institutions Inventory (SAPRODLII), developed by the researchers, was administered to the subjects to measure their attitudes and experiences. Results of the study showed that students generally have a positive perception and attitude towards ODL, compared to traditional forms of higher education.


Author(s):  
Francisco Coronado

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the population growth, migration, poverty, economic, political, environmental aspects and the management of the budget at national and municipal levels, including information of other cities in Peru, to define the effect on the quality of life of the population and formulate a management recommendation to help improve the quality of life in Lima and on intermediate cities. Design/methodology/approach The methodology of the study consisted on collect, review and select important factors that influence the quality of life in a big city, in this case in Lima, the concentration of people of Peru in Lima, migration and poverty, the coverage and quality of services, the concentration of the economy, public and private investments and services in Lima, some political aspects and a view of the available budget and the needed investment. Findings The deficiencies in the habitability conditions of the residents of Lima were verified considering the limited infrastructure and public services, the low level of investments and the limited effectiveness of the technical and administrative work of the municipal authorities and the central government. Although studies on other important cities in Peru are more limited, it could be said that similar limitations are being presented for example in transportation. Research limitations/implications The main obstacle to the study is the limited availability of information of such broad aspects that characterize a city that could not be covered in one paper. Practical implications The result of the study supports the need to implement appropriate management decisions about urban planning and investment policies for Metropolitan Lima, as well as to raise municipal and central government technical and legal conditions that are attractive for residents and investors for other cities in the country seeking their development, as well as to help counteract the concentration of people in Lima to control the demands of their habitability. Social implications The study could impact not only in the habitability conditions of about 10m inhabitants of Lima, but to all the 30m inhabitants of Perú. Originality/value Presents an unified vision of the social, economic and political deficiencies to the provision of services to a city concentrating the population of a country.


Author(s):  
S'bonisile Zama

The supply or lack of services impacts on people's quality of life, and so the Constitution of South Africa and other strategy documents emphasise the provision of services to all South African citizens irrespective of colour or creed. The services are vast and the responsibility for provision is divided between national, provincial and local authorities. This paper focuses on the delivery of services whose responsibility and accountability lies with the local municipalities, including: water; electricity; sanitation and refuse removal. The paper also explores the background to the recent unrest in the country with a focus on Dipaleseng Municipality, looking at its socio-economic situation, and challenges which include poverty, economic stability and provision of basic services. Sources of data include the South African media, journal articles, relevant documents, websites and databases.


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