Abstract
This paper is based on a study that investigated a general conception that academics and students of engineering in ODL institutions conduct less research compared to those teaching and learning in conventional institutions of higher learning. The study first observed the level of research conducted by Sri Lankan researchers, and compared it to similar activities carried out in neighbouring countries. Subsequently, attention was focused on the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), which is the pioneer ODL institution in Sri Lanka. It closely observed the research carried out at OUSL over the last few years and made comparisons between different disciplines. A tracer study was carried out to identify the research activities at the Faculty of Engineering Technology over the years and compare them with the research done at other OUSL faculties. It was evident from this study that the number of research papers presented at conferences and journal articles generated by the Faculty of Engineering Technology was low compared to the number produced by the other three faculties in the university. The study revealed some interesting reasons for the low level of engineering-based research output when engineering is taught through ODL.
Highlights
The Faculty of Engineering Technology at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) has been teaching engineering courses using the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode over the last 25 years
A questionnaire survey was conducted among the academic staff members of the Faculty of Engineering Technology in order to take a snapshot of their research profile in 2010
The following responses were obtained from the 44 respondents: 1. Conference presentations: A total of 26 papers were presented by the staff members in 2010, out of which six were presented overseas and 20 locally
Summary
The Faculty of Engineering Technology at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) has been teaching engineering courses using the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode over the last 25 years. Graduate numbers have increased, the involvement of OUSL engineering faculty in disciplined-based research has not been comparable to such activities in the engineering faculties of conventional universities. This is evident from the number of research grants that have been granted, and the number of conference papers and journal articles that have been published annually by engineering faculty members of the various universities. Distance learning institutions are perceived to be conducting less discipline-based research compared to conventional universities which have more face-to-face interaction with students This perception is commonly applied to all science disciplines, especially engineering. These are supposed to be published biannually, their printing is governed by the number of submissions by staff members
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