Profile of Distance Education Institutions Worldwide
Group 2

Institution: Europe	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia

(JJ)	History: International single-mode university founded approximately 20 years ago.

Mission:
•	To provide access to university for all those who are unable to attend on-campus classes.
•	To develop programs for further education and for cultural and professional improvement
•	To carry out scientific research in all fields and at all levels

	Programs

1. A myriad of choices for undergraduate and post- graduate degrees

2. Open DL Programme - offers 60 courses 
-No requirement to get into program and students pick courses to match interests	Content Development/ Delivery in DE

Course teams prepare Teaching Units that are comprised of tutorial texts and audiovisual material.

Grades bases upon teaching teams evaluation of individual work and face-to-face interaction with tutors.	Student Interaction

Study Centers (58 in Spain and 9 aboard) are main area for learning – students register, purchase teaching units, attend lectures, and join study groups.	Special Services

Administrative telephone information system handles all administrative questions for students and faculty.	Other Information

	

Institution: Europe	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Open University of the Netherlands

(LG)	Welcomed its first students in September 1984. It is an independent government-funded institution for open higher distance education, established by law in 1985.The Dutch government's purpose in founding the Open University was to make higher education accessible to anyone with the necessary aptitudes and interests, regardless of any formal qualifications.	Business and Public Administration
Cultural Studies 
Economics,
Environmental Science
Dutch Law
Psychology
Information Science. 
	Instruction is based on guided individual study and there are generally no compulsory classroom or tutoring sessions.  The instructional material may consist of printed matter supplemented by CD-ROM, video and/or audio
cassettes, practical, tutoring in groups, courseware and other educational media.	Students work individually or in small groups to generate and comment on solutions to problems posed by the teacher or other students. The supervisor/ coach can use this environment to assess students understanding and guide the discussion to a deeper level.		About 70% of the Open University’s approximately 22,000 students are in paid employment, and more than half decided to enroll at the Open University because it leaves them free to choose the time and place of study and lets them progress at their own pace.	

Institution: Europe	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Universitat Oberta de Catlunya - The Virtual University

http://www.uoc.es/web/eng/

(LL)	Admin. Offices Barcelona, Spain

Public University
No Residency
On-Line Classrooms

Mission: To create a virtual campus and to facilitate individualized and interactive contact between all the members of the university community: students, professors and administrative personnel.
	1. On-Line Distance Learning University

2. Spanish or Catalan Language Proficiency Required

3. Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral degrees

4. Degree programs in education, multi-media, information technology, and more
	1. Course Delivery:
       Internet
       Telephone
2. Mixed mode university offering courses through traditional university education and distance education
3. Computer conferencing, online seminars, discussions, chat
4. Retrieve assignments online
5. Online professor and student biographies

	1.Professors and Tutors guide discussions

2. Asychronous email discussion groups for debates and forums

3. Synchronous chat interactions supported	1.Online Help, Demos and Tutorials 

2. TechSupport Hotline

3. On-Line Library and Research Center	Accreditation: Documented but written in Spanish and Catalan
Enrollment: In 1999, 17,296 students served
An important research university focused on information technology and the resultant impact on distance education
Quality control evaluation system implemented	

Institution: Europe	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
DeMontfort University, UK
Centre for Learning & Teaching

www.clt.dmu.ac.uk
www.dmu.ac.uk

(MG)

	Opened: 1992 after merge with Leicester Polytechnic, Leicester College of Technology & Leicester College of Arts

Formed from a variety of specialist institutions – a collaborative school

Some residency
On-Line Classrooms

Mission: To extend opportunity, promote inclusion & achieve high standards of learning research and scholarship to meet the aspirations of our diverse study body….	1. Resident & On- 
    Line classes
2. Semester courses 
    offered-world-wide
3. Undergrad & Grad 
    degrees, varied programs	Course Delivery
1. IT Networking,  Video conference

Course Development
Course/Team Model

2.  Printed modules

3. Students assigned to one of the 7 school "faculties"(academic divisions). Faculties responsible for devising & delivery of programs.

4. Dual-mode university	1.Communication: fax, email, Asynchronous 	1. On-line library & research 

2.  Tech support

3. 4 UK study centers each having a program specialization	Enrollment Data: 1998-99
2,450 Int'l students
30,550 F/T- P/T students

10 campuses, 4 UK Study Centers; and Arrangements with 60 univ and colleges in 40 countries

Course evaluations

No specific lecture periods for certain programs.

Financial Aid Assistance	

Institution: Europe	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
FernUniversitat (FeU) (Germany)
 
(See Peters book, pp. 75, 152, 169, 200-212)

(LJ)	Founded in 1974 by an act of the state parliament of North-Rhine Westphalia.  Started teaching in 1975.

Departments of Practical Computer Science and Communications Systems established the Virtual University of the FernUniversitat in Hagen

Public, open to applicants internationally

Mission:  To be an autonomous university, providing development of science by research, teaching, and study.  To develop and support continuous scientific education, and relieve overcrowding in other universities, catering to adults, the employed, and the disabled.
	Masters degrees or Diplomas of same ranking

Doctorates and beyond, up to professional theses

Faculty categories supporting institutes:
•	Education, Social Studies, and Humanities
•	Electrical Engineering, Computer Science 
•	Law
•	Economics
•	Mathematics

Some institutes are large international research projects.

Has 1,600 courses
	Courses developed by professors, research scientists, including about 300 external to the university.  Collaborate with subject specialists and educational technologists.

Courses reflect professors’ achievements but are structured using a strict standard, including an introductory study letter.

Most teaching uses distance courses sent to students bi-weekly, include self-instructing texts with self-tests.  Must complete half of course to sit for an exam in a decentralized location, proctored by an exam board member.

Some use supplemental audio-visual and electronic media (e.g., digital teaching programs, teleconferencing, and video cassettes), laboratory kits, and television.

Full-time students spend 40-hour weeks mostly on printed material; part-timers spend 20 hours.
	Face-to-face teaching in study centers by part-time mentors, supplemented by seminars and study days directed by professors.

Study centers also used for personal contacts with other students, mentors, and authors of study letters, and to form student study circles
	Has 54 study centers, mostly in Germany, but also in Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary

The Virtual University of the FernUniversitat provides all university services, including academic, library, administrative, retail, and so on, over a Net-based system.

A uniform Net-based platform is used by the virtual university and all departments of FernUniversitat.
	In 1998, had about 56,000 students

Each year about 500 students are awarded Master’s degrees or equal Diplomas

About 400 doctorates have been awarded

School receives considerable amount of funding from outside sources, including commercial companies	

North America: Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
American Military University

www.amunet.edu

(MG)

	Opened: 1993, Admin Offices Manassas, VA

Developed in late 1980s by USMC Major James P. Etter

Private University
No Residency 
On-Line Classrooms

Mission: To promote the development and the application of knowledge, the acquisition of problem-solving skills, and the maturation of intellect and character…	1. On-Line  Distance Learning University

2. English Language Proficiency Required

3. Associate, Bachelor, & Masters degrees

4. Courses military related

5.  Semester courses offered worldwide

	1. Course Delivery:
       WebTV
       Internet
2. On-Line Student  
   Guide: list professor 
    info, assignments, goals 
    for semester,  proctored 
    exam requirements
3. Course broken up into 
    activity groups

4.Course Development
     Author/Editor Model
5. Assignments mailed, 
    faxed, emailed to prof 
    for grading - comments 
    and returned to student 
    via one of these media

6. Single mode university
7.  Directed study. Majority 
     of work is research 
     and writing	1. Communication:
Asynchronous, fax, email, chat rooms, 

2. Must contact prof at least 4 times during semester or more often if needed

3. Interaction with prof also through planned "chat" sessions	1.TechSupport

2. On-Line Research Center

3. Real-Time Chat Support

4. Student Support: 
 a) Professor. No tutors. 
 b) Military students referred to base Education Centers.
c) Civilians referred to their HR Office or Civilian Personnel Office 	Accreditation:
Through 2004 by the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC).  Pending Application to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Do not have to be affiliated with the military to attend

Enrollment: 3,500 active students as of  February, 2001

No specific lecture periods

Course evaluations

Various financial aid programs available

North America: Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Cyberschool

(JJ)	Mission: To provide high schools with the opportunity to offer students a wide range of curriculum no matter where the school is located	Classes augment traditional high school classes. School districts decide to give graduation credits for courses.

Seven subjects with specific classes such as
 AP English, Understanding Economics, Japanese, and Latin	Classes are ”hand made” or developed by one teacher. Learning is asynchronous and individualized. 

Staff: Principal, Technical Advisor, Registrar, Secretary, and 19 Teachers.	Students can contact teacher through e-mail.

		Accredited by Commission

North America: Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Empire State College (USA)

(See Peters book, pp. 224-229)

(LJ)	Founded in 1971 by Education Ministry of New York

In Saratoga Springs, NY, is an extension of the State University of New York (which includes 72 state colleges)

Public

Mission:  To provide higher education to mature students bound by families, jobs, and belonging to ethnic minorities.  To organize itself in accordance with the situations and requirements of students and to motivate them through self-determined study.	Undergraduate degrees

Program offerings based on desired occupation of individual students	Student takes initiative to determine program offering, then goes through these phases:
•	Preparatory exploration (to discover student’s aptitude and program’s life effects)
•	Orientation 
•	Classification (determines length of study period)
•	Development of Learning Contract (student drafts and negotiates it with mentor), agreed upon by students, teachers, and university.  Includes aims, topics, exactly-defined tasks and services, timeframes, reading lists, evaluation methods and roles, credits expected
•	Autonomous, independent self-study (may include seminars at another local college, student-initiated interviews with experts, Internet learning programs)
Evaluation (continuously in mentor support sessions & mid-term by a commission; college awards credits when course completed & verified)	At students request, teachers provide counseling conversations at study centers

Regular support sessions and evaluations with assigned mentor

One-to-one student-mentor relationship over several years (personalizes education)
	Study centers and support points (26) throughout state (no residence or lecture halls, or seminar rooms)

Computer-supported courses

Choice of methods and media linked with student’s personal and employment situation
	As of 2001, has 11,000 mature students, 30,000 graduates	

North America: Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
North Central 
University
(Prescott, AZ)

(LG)	The mission of North Central University is to provide adult Learners throughout the world with educational opportunities to acquire a body of knowledge in recognized academic disciplines by offering bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. The educational emphasis to accomplish its mission has three key components: (1) distance learning, facilitated by online interaction; (2) Active Self-Learning, and (3) professional faculty mentors. 
	Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in Psychology, Business & Technology Management.
	Contact between the learner and the faculty mentor is achieved through any or a combination of the following methods:  telephone, fax, voice mail, email, and regular mail.	North Central University uses electronic communications. Regional Directors arrange tutorial support for students at local level, both through correspondence and through the study centers established in various educational institutions of the formal system of education. The regional campuses also organize workshops and provide guidance to students.
	The University is especially sensitive to the special needs of adult Learners returning to college after a long absence from the classroom.	On June 22, 2001, the Board of Trustees of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools granted North Central University (Prescott, AZ) initial candidacy status.	

North America: Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	

University of Phoenix Online

http://online.phoenix.edu

(LL)	Opened: 1989, Admin. Offices Phoenix, AZ

Private University
No Residency 
On-Line Classrooms

Mission: To provide educational excellence and unsurpassed student service to working adults regardless of their geographic location	1. On-Line Distance Learning University

2. English Language Proficiency Required

3. Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral degrees

4. Degree programs in Business, Management, Technology, Education and Nursing

5. Customized corporate training also available

5.  105 University of Phoenix campuses and learning centers in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada

6. Courses offered every 5 to 6 weeks

	1. Course Delivery:
       Internet

2. Retrieve lectures, questions and assignments from your instructor, then review them off-line 

3. Assignments emailed to instructor for grading - comments and returned via email

4. Mixed mode university with classroom, online and direct study format where student works one-on-one with a faculty member to complete the class	1. Communication:
Asynchronous email discussion groups

2. Eight to thirteen students per class

3. Professor, Instructor or Facilitator guides discussion 

4. No specific lecture times	1.Online Help and Tutorials 

2. TechSupport Hotline

3. On-Line Library and Research Center

4. Student Support:            a) Enrollment advisor assists with 1st time registration 
b) Academic advisor provides list of classes and timeline for degree completion
c) Academic advisor contacts students periodically to check on progress	Accreditation:

The University of Phoenix is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Master of Science in Nursing degree programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The Master of Counseling Program is accredited by the American Counseling Association Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Enrollment: Currently enrolled 95,700 degree-seeking students

Various financial aid programs available	

Other Continent:
Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	

Allama Iqbal Open University
(Pakistan)

(LG)	The University aims to provide equality of educational opportunities to as large a section of the population as possible, including those in employment, housewives, and others who wish to upgrade their education or acquire knowledge for professional advancement or love of learning.	Programs
Arabic Teachers' Training Course 
Bachelor of Arts (General) 
Bachelor of Business Administration 
Bachelor of Commerce 
Bachelor of Education 
Basic Functional Education 
Certified Teacher's Certificate 
Computer Applications, Diploma 
Computer Maint Diploma 
Education, Master of Arts 
Education, Master of Philosophy 
Educational Planning and Management, Diploma 
Educational Planning and Mangmnt, Master of Arts 
Intermediate Certificate 
Iqbaliyat, Master of Philosophy 
Islamic Studies, Master of Philosophy 
Library and Information Sciences, Bachelor of Arts 
Mass Communication, Bachelor of Arts 
Master of Business Admin
Master of Education 
Pakistan Studies,MS 
Primary Teacher's Certificate 
Special Ed, Diploma 
Special Ed, Master of Arts 
Special Ed, M of Education 
TEFL, Master of Arts 
Urdu, Master Philosophy 	Its educational facilities are extended to the remotest parts of Pakistan, firstly through the mailing of learning materials and its radio and TV broadcasts and secondly by tutorial services through its regional campuses and centers established at major cities of the country.	Faculty mentors support the adult's active learning role by guiding and stimulating the learning process in one-on-one online communication.	Regional Directors arrange tutorial support for students at local level, both through correspondence and through the study centers established in various educational institutions of the formal system of education. The regional campuses also organize workshops and provide guidance to the students.	The University offers over 550 courses in 60 programs. The annual student enrolment ranges between 300,000 and 325,000. The number of full-time academic staff is about 125 and part-time tutors is 7000 per semester	

Other Continent:
Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Alice Springs School of the Air

http://www.assoa.nt.edu.au/

(LL)	Opened 1951: Admin. Offices 

	1. Primary school provided to children of the outback

2. English Language Proficiency Required	1. Course Delivery:
       Internet
       Radio
       Telephone
       Fax
       Video

2. Primary school students (grades 1 through 7) spend up to half an hour on the radio each day (Approx. 3 hours per week on radio)

3. Radio lessons are supplementary to the correspondence work done at home	1. Radio broadcasts include morning announcements, lessons, electives, and extra curricular activities

2. Students follow correspondence school method for submitting assignments and receiving grades

3. Students use computers as a research resource and for creating presentations

3. Students use transceivers supplied by the school for two way communication

4. Students are encouraged to use computers for correspondence and to reply to pen pal requests	1. Lesson materials are supplied by the school via snail mail

2. Equipment supplied by the school includes transceivers (two way radios), a TV set, video recorder, cassette recorder and computers for students in years 4 to 7

Each young student also has a personal, 10 minute lesson with the class teacher once a week via telephone to address individual needs	Enrollment: 140 Children

This historically significant first Australian correspondence school for primary school aged children, currently has a broadcast area of over 1 million square kilometers

The equipment resource fee is $100.00 per family and school fees are $80.00 per year. All other costs, including postage, are the responsibility of the school, which is funded by the Northern Territory Department of Education in Australia	

Other Continent:
Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	

Charles Sturt University

(JJ)	
History:
CSU established in 1989.
Sturt (1828 -?) is a famous Australian explorer and author 
Mission:
- Balancing professional and vocational course needs with the development of skills for and positive attitudes towards life-long learning; 
- attracting students nationally and internationally because of the excellence of its courses, teaching, scholarship and support to students;
- being committed to open learning through access, articulation and student support programs…
	
Dual-mode school with 300 courses offered to 30,000 students 

Australia’s largest DE provider.

A plethora of graduate and undergraduate courses offered through DE.	
Seven campuses in Australia.

Courses include:
•	course material (textbooks, CD-ROMs…)
•	study modules
•	weekly schedules of required work
	
DE students use telephone tutorials to synchronously communicate with up to ten people.

Residential and weekend schools are used as face-to face sessions.  They can be required but last no longer than four days. Students listen to lectures, participate in group tutorials, and bond over free nighttime entertainment.	
Sturt has several commercial enterprises (farm, winery…) as resources for hands on learning.		

Other Continent:
Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	
Monash University, Australia

www.celts.monash.edu.au
www.monash.edu.au 

(MG)	Opened: 1956
Nonprofit
State run 
On-line classrooms
Residency some programs

Mission: …to be one of the most highly regarded  and innovative universities in the world and lead the way in higher education in Australia…	1. Global university with 8 campuses

2. Undergrad & grad degrees, various progs

3. Distance and Open Learning programs (tutorials for open learning students)	Course Development:
Course Team model (educational design group)

1.Has Center for Learning & Teaching Support to assist "faculties" develop & deliver student-centered flexible learning on and off campus

2.  Dual-mode university

3. Class modules 	1.Communication: 
fax, email, phone, Asynchronous	1. Student Support Unit
2. Multimedia unit

3. Print & Web  
    publishing unit
4. Admin unit

5. Research  & On-line 
    library
6. Course advisors	Feb 2000 – 
42,000 students

Exams mailed – Exams taken at examination venues	

Other Continents:
 Institution	History/Mission	Programs	Content Development/ Delivery	Student Interaction	Special Services	Other Information	    
University of the Air (Japan)
 
(See Peters book, pp. 218-224)

(LJ)	Founded in 1983 by the Japanese government
 
In Greater Tokyo (Kanto region)
 
Public
 
Mission:  To make available a lifelong, flexible university learning opportunity to all full-time employed, homemakers, and secondary school leavers not admitted to other universities.  To use the latest advances in research and instruction technologies (at founding, meaning TV) to meet ”new era” requirements.	Undergraduate, BA degrees
 
Offers 155 TV and 144 radio programs
 
Flexible duration of 4-10 years (most about four years)
 
	Broadcast lectures developed by teachers and production directors at National Institute of Multimedia Education in collaboration with teachers at the U. of Air
 
Uses television (TV) and radio with supplementary printed teaching materials (developed by teachers) and textbooks.  Study centers outside greater Tokyo use video and audio cassettes.
 
A 4-credit course, for example, involves watching and listening to 30 45-minute programs over a 15-week term; completing reading, writing, and research assignments and exams; and attending study center (tuition) sessions.  A course is broken down into a weekly workload.

Students must write a thesis in their last-year.
	Students must attend study center classrooms (8 in Greater Tokyo, 10 outside), where face-to-face sessions and sitting exams are given, where teachers supervise groups.

	Written counseling is provided with assignment results.
 
School has its own TV and radio station that broadcasts from 6am to midnight
	In 1991, had about 35,000 students, about 60% degree-seeking
 
Students ages are 20+ years, with about equal enrollment among men and women
 
School participates in research and education reform activities with other universities in Japan
 
Enjoys enthusiastic support and funding from government; plans to use satellites to widen transmission range and then to add more study centers