Role of Open and Distance Learning in Agriculture Education in India

The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) can be an effective and cost effective tool to reach the masses in imparting the required skills and technical proficiency. The conventional Agricultural education system has not utilized the potential of ODL in a big way for extending the reach of agriculture education and capacity building activities. Some of the challenges in ODL system include: identifying the right type and level of programme, selecting the appropriate pedagogy model, covering of large and diverse clientele group, popularization and recognition of the programmes and linkages with the industry. For successful implementation of the ODL programmes in agriculture, the interventions proposed are synergy between ODL and conventional system to improve GER and bridge the gap between demand and supply, collaboration with different institutions and industry for development and delivery of the programmes, linkage with the government schemes, popularization and recognition of ODL programmes, utilization of modern technologies, etc.

Higher Education in Developing Countries

Due to globalization of economic activities and increased scope of higher education, higher education has become a priority agenda for countries around the globe. In order increase opportunities of higher education, institutions of higher education must enhance their quality and access through open and distance learning while following national and international standards. For developing countries, higher education opportunities through open and distance learning are important for economic prosperity and participation in global knowledge economy. Globalization has created numerous challenges and opportunities for higher education. These challenges are more significant for developing countries because of limited resources. At the same time, meeting these challenges is a top priority of developing world. This chapter examines numerous challenges faced by higher education in developing countries. The chapter also discusses how higher education institutions in developing world can use open and distance learning to cope up with these challenges.

Open and Distance Learning in India

Rise of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) systems in India is largely a 20th century phenomenon. The ODL systems have taken up responsibilities to identify the educational needs of diverse segments of people and accordingly plan innovative and flexible systems to meet their requirements. Though ODL systems have been on the priority of the Governments in India for a long time, Post 2015 Development Agenda of United Nations has given a renewed policy thrust for it. Despite their tremendous potential to address the problems in Indian Higher Education, the functioning of ODL systems is constrained by low reach of technology, poor infrastructure and sharp socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural variations in targeted areas. This chapter gives an account of gaps in theory and practices of Open and Distance Learning systems. Recommendations have been made to optimise the practice of ODL to suit Indian context. Existing research studies have been put in to perspective and recommendations have been made for practitioners of Open and Distance Learning systems.

The Sustainable Development of Persons With Disabilities in Developing Countries Through Open and Distance Education

The United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities has provided a strong impetus to the full and effective involvement of persons with disabilities in society and development with equal access to opportunities to contribute to an equal footing with others in social and economic progress. . However, developing nations are yet to achieve the goal of full participation and equalization of opportunities for sustainable development of persons with disabilities. The special education system or inclusive education being a part of education system, needs to examine the feasibility of open and distance learning to provide opportunity to maximum number of persons with disabilities irrespective of their physical, sensory and psychological diversity, to make them a part of mainstream society. The Guidelines on Open and Distance developed for Persons with Disabilities, published by UNESCO will also be very effective in general and developing countries in particular.

Enhancing Learning Opportunities Through Development of Open and Distance Education in Africa

Africa's success in today's information-based world economy will require an accelerated demographic transition to a flexible, educated, and healthy workforce. An analysis presented in the World Bank's “Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?” states that African economies will need to replace reliance on natural resources with skilled labour in order to halt the erosion of its share in world trade and to achieve a reduction in poverty (World Bank, 2001). Tilak (2009) submits that only between 6 and 7% of those qualified to obtain tertiary education do get placement in African universities. As a result of this shortage of places in African universities, many qualified candidates turned their search towards open and distance learning institutions. The growth of information and communication technologies has facilitated the expansion of open and distance mode of education. On the African Continent where resources are scarce and higher education provision is poor, ODL has been accepted as a viable, cost effective means of expanding provision without costly outlay in infrastructure.

Emerging Trends in Skill-Based Education With MLearning and ERP

Today there is a gap between marketable skills of the majority of workforce and the expectations of their roles. Many undergraduates have difficulties when moving from education to employment as there is no convergence between acquired education and required skill sets. Indian Government has recently introduced one of the national policies such as NSQF for developing link between education, skills and aptitude. YCMOU intends to impart skill education using the ‘Learn and Earn' approach. This chapter present all implementation details of technologically driven changes to impart ‘Industrial and Business skills' effectively. A diploma programme offers flexible teaching-learning environments aiming to offer adequate online and offline tools for delivery of information, interaction and collaboration. It also offers ‘On-Job Training (OJT)' to provide an opportunity for the learners to work in real environment. A mandatory OJT is aiming for grooming of appropriate skills. A novel feature of this diploma programme is the use of self and peer assessment processes which encourages learning.

Integrating Digital Learning Management System (LMS) Into Institutional Policies on Open Education in India for the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

India is home to millions of potential learners at various levels. The current educational system and its infrastructure is bursting at its seams due to the bourgeoning pressure of demands on it. Open education is often touted as the way out of this immense demand generated pressure. However, the slow assimilation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) stays put on such expectations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the UN lays down the road map for making the world a better place to dwell in all aspects of human existence. Education lies at the heart of attaining the goal of sustainable development. The limitations imposed by time, place and other barriers can be effectively met only by the infusion of new technology into open education systems, in countries like India. The substantial internet penetration in India gives it a unique advantage to affect a massive technology driven growth in high quality education.

Integration of Web 2 Technologies for ODL

The world today is a complex one with issues and concerns emerging that were absent even a generation ago. Education and technology in the present millennium is not a luxury but commodity for survival in the present knowledge driven tech innovative society. In today's online era, the concept of a traditional classroom teaching extends beyond a walled room with desks and chairs and into the realm of cyber space. The Research findings presented here are derived from a systematic researches conducted to know the effectiveness of various modes of online learning and face-to-face instruction for teaching various subject /courses at different level. The goal of such studies as a whole is to provide policy-makers, administrators and educators with research-based guidance about how to implement different platforms of online learning for school/ higher education and teacher preparation. The locus of such researches was students studying in different institutions at different levels in India.

Private Universities' Participation in Open and Distance Learning for Enhanced Access to Higher Education Among Underserved in India

It is now well recognised and understood that the higher education is one of the important components in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations for the countries. However this important sector continues to remain a matter of concern in India primarily because of supply demand gaps, poor quality of teaching-learning, disparities in access and constraints on research & innovation. The conventional mainstream systems of education are able to serve a very small segment of the society. Alongside, new demands of education are fast emerging from the working class and who are away from the centre of activities. The scarce financial allocations from the Government are not able to meet the demand of education. Such a scenario threatens the sustained high growth of the Indian economic engine. The advent of private sector and the opening of private universities and other institutions for higher and professional education has now emerged as important factors that are, now, running sizeable number of professional degree programmes particularly management and engineering and accounts for 59% of all the tertiary enrolments in India. Despite a lot of scepticism about the role of private sector, there has been a policy thrust for private sector's participation in higher education. This paper discusses the needs of private universities and their roles in making access of higher education in masses. The authors have tried to explore the roles of vast network of private universities in expansion of open and distance learning in accordance with the issues and challenges.

Indian Higher Education

This chapter gives an overview of Indian Higher Education system with special reference to Open and Distance Learning. It enlists the merits and limitations of Open and Distance Learning system. It also focuses on complexities and weaknesses of Indian Higher Education comparing it with the educational policies in other Asian Countries. The chapter describes the limitations of Higher Education System in India and discusses the reforms and restructuring announced by the ministry of education in India. It further unfolds the success story of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University's ‘School of Agricultural Sciences' by explaining in detail the innovative practices in Agricultural ODL.