Pandora's box: A new model for education in Asia

Distance education. Just say the words and a stereotype comes to mind — a system of education that is “second best.” Many who have only experienced face-to-face education in an institutional setting believe that the quality of education provided through distance education is inferior. However, this is far from true, according to Naveed A. Malik, rector of the Virtual University of Pakistan. In fact, in Asia, distance education using information and communication technologies (ICTs) is proving to be an efficient way of delivering high-quality education using course materials often developed by the best faculty teams. And by making higher education affordable and accessible, it is helping to address equity issues. “The basic issue is that we have a huge Asian population mass and a corresponding demand for higher education that the existing number of colleges and universities have no ability to address,” says Malik. “Compounding this problem is the fact that we have a very small supply of qualified faculty. This leads to some serious human resource development issues.” In Pakistan, for example, only 3% of the country’s 18- to 24-year-olds are enrolled in higher education institutions, says Malik. Part of the problem is that students in the countryside must move to the city to get an education. Many cannot afford this. Moreover, even students with the resources to attend institutions of higher learning are being turned away at the door. These institutions simply don’t have the physical infrastructure or human resources to cope with the number of youth seeking an education. Distance education in the information age Distance education using ICTs could change this. “Distance education has been around for a long time in fact,” says Malik. “But if we add information and communication technologies into the distance education process, we can raise the quality and overcome capacity and affordability problems as well.” Another critical need in the information age is life-long learning or “retooling.” According to Malik, “ICT-based distance education provides a convenient and efficient vehicle for achieving this. Learners can fulfill their continuing education requirements and acquire new skills without leaving their workplaces,” he says. Distance education represents a way to capitalize on the skills and talents of the best and brightest educators by recruiting them to help design courses. A high quality program of education can then be developed and implemented countrywide. In Pakistan, this is easier now that the price of broadband has come down significantly in recent years. Moreover, throughout Asia, the Internet is increasingly available in even the remotest locations. Source: IDRC.

User comments

"Distance Education needs to be interactive" Author: rema venu Time: 14.04.2008 09:16 Comment: Distance Education is certainly a good option to have for those who are unable to attend direct classes because of distance or because they work full time. It is a good option for those who are taking up courses that are in line with their work to formalize their on the job training or to improve career prospects. Distance education also helps students who may be drop outs, for women who for many reasons are unable to attend college [but have necessary basic education or support to do a distance education program]. Most older adult learners do well in such a medium because they are motivated. However, adults including returning young students or those who are not in a work environment need more interaction and support than given by many of the current distance education programs. Human interaction, discussion, and direct feedback are important elements of learning that tend to be ignored not only by institutions and faculty, but also by students who do not know/realize what they miss out on. Group work is another activity that is used in direct classes. A few such interactions should be included in and/or made mandatory to make the distance education effective. Many of the US distance education programs have periods of residency and/or other forms of student-faculty interaction. In cases where distance education is a degree program, it must be supplemented by a range of options that could include mentoring, weekend or monthly opportunities for students and faculty to interact, video conference and/or teleconference when possible and internships. Variety will help. Partnerships with local television and radio stations, internet providers and use of providers such as Skype could be used to strengthen interaction among students and between faculty and students. Descriptive feedback on assignments is an other important element that should accompany distance education. Discussion of feedback allows the student to improve performance. In terms of costs, distance education is cheaper when it follows older methods which are more like correspondence courses or self-study courses. The more modern distance education courses which include more interactive means are not so cheap.

 Printable version