Abstract
We begin by summarising Prasad’s (2018) work on the disconnect between the social purposes of open universities and their achievement. Next, we will revisit the concept of the iron triangle from the 1990s, which explores the three topics access, cost, and quality. How does it apply to distance education conducted with today’s technologies? A distinction made in the 1970s between independent and interactive learning activities helps us pursue this question further. A discussion among open university executive heads from around the world in 2017 sets the stage for the final section, which reflects on the current challenges facing open universities. How should they address the competition from the rapidly expanding online offerings of campus institutions? We review economic models, the use of technology, governance and management arrangements, and teaching. The successful systems conceived by the UK Open University in the late 1960s stimulated the creation of many other open universities. How should they be updated today?
Highlights
Open universities were the most significant innovation in higher education of the late 20th century
Before applying older concepts to today’s open universities (OUs), we summarise Prasad’s distinction between the dharma and the karma of distance learning in the case of India (Prasad, 2018, p. 6)
Whereas higher education was absent from the Millennium Development Goals, its inclusion in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 shows that the purposes of OUs are as relevant as ever
Summary
Open universities were the most significant innovation in higher education of the late 20th century. By operating at scale with low costs, raising the standard of learning materials, and introducing newer communications technologies, open and distance learning promised to transform higher education generally. The article draws on two concepts found useful during the author’s many years as a scholar-practitioner in open and distance learning (ODL) from 1971 onwards It recalls with admiration the teaching and learning system developed for the UKOU by Walter Perry and colleagues in the 1960s. Our concluding remarks reflect on the challenges facing OUs today How should they evolve that online learning offerings from campus universities are exploding?
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