On-Line Distance Learning: A Model for Developing Countries

Abstract

We are increasingly viewing education as an industry, courses and programmes as products, delivery of education as a service, and educational institutions as for-profit ventures. The world trade in education represents an important growth opportunity and, increasingly, the means by which solutions to educational challenges are found. There is no doubt that open and distance learning (ODL) will be the primary mode of lifelong education for knowledge workers in the new millenium. Traditional forms of education provision would not be able to meet the tremendous increase in the demand for lifelong learning across the globe. ICTs must be recognized as the crucial determinant in evolution of ODL systems in the knowledge era. Governments in developing countries have responded to the emerging realities of global markets. The specific features of ODL and delivery systems for developing countries are presented. And the critical challenges for developing countries to global education are discussed. The virtual Campus Initiative of the Indira Gandhi National Open University is presented as a case, with a model for On-Line Delivery of Programmes and for On-line, For Profit Telelearning Centres. The article ends with an overview of key strategies that would enable open and distance-learning institutions to create and serve global education markets.