A World View of Distance Education Institutions

North America

The Catholic Distance University: Hampton, Virginia, USA

CDU was established in 1983 by Bishop Thomas J Welsh. CDU has been accredited since 1986 by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, which is recognized by the US Department of Education. It was officially approved as a Catechetical Institute by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy in 1983. The Catholic Distance University (CDU) provides life long learning in the Faith to adults using distance education at the continuing education ,undergraduate and masters degree levels. Overseas enrolments have been accepted from 38 countries, including England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Kenya, Canada and several countries in Asia and Central and South America
http://www.cdu.edu.

Empire State College: New York, USA

The Empire State College is a part of the larger collection of colleges that make up the State University of New York (SUNY). Empire state has 11,000 students every year and operates out of 40 locations. It is unique in that it is a distance education college whose courses are designed by the students themselves, making this a truly autonomous educational experience. (Peters, 1998) In this college, students and instructors (called mentors) develop a learning contract that specifies the course syllabus, objectives and the time frame allocated for completion. In this way, each course is customized to the needs of the particular student. Learning packages are distributed to students, but they are also able to visit with instructors for personal guidance. This "guided independent learning" is a distinguishing feature of the Empire State College. http://www.esc.edu/esconline/online1.nsf/esc_homepage?openform

Yukon College: Yukon Territory, Canada

Created in 1983 and now operating out of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada, Yukon College serves a need for distance education due to geographical isolation in an area that extends well above the Arctic Circle. Yukon College refers to their distance education as "distributed learning," referring both to the diffusion of local college sites in the region and the distribution of media used to deliver courses. The irregularity of mail, electricity and disruption in phone service, require a shotgun approach to media which includes online courses, voicemail, audio and video cassettes, radio and television broadcasts, interactive and satellite and overland transmission of closed circuit television, and conventional correspondence courses. This utilitarian approach in delivery is both a result of the hardships known in the region and a natural part of the way of life and mentality. A full range of courses is offered with unique courses on regional history and geography available. http://www.yukoncollege.yk/ca/programs/de.htm

Capella University: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Capella was founded in 1993 as an accredited distance learning university with no physical campus. It caters to professional, adult learners. It aims to be flexible and innovative and to help learners design their own education. Capella offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, education, human services, psychology, and technology. Course content is delivered asynchronously via their proprietary online system. Students interact with professors through in-class discussion and are encouraged to contact professors via phone and email.

http://www.capellauniversity.com

Europe

The Baltic University Program: Sweden, Europe

The Baltic University program started it's activities in 1991.
The Baltic University Program is coordinated by a secretariat at Uppsala University, Sweden with national centre existing in 12 countries as centre of information and distribution of material. The Program is financed mainly by Swedish Governmental funds. Today over 160 universities and other institutions for higher learning in 14 countries are participating in the activities in four different fields. The Baltic University courses are undergraduate level, based on originally live satellite TV broadcasts, available as cassettes, and booklets in English. The Baltic University supports overseas enrollment thought the Baltic region.
http://www.balticuniv.uadm.uu.se

Technical University of Civil Engineering (UTCB): Bucharest, Romania, Eastern Europe

The UTCB can trace its roots to 1818 and the School for Land Surveyors. Since 1992, the UTCB’s has been to offer the opportunity to receive a postgraduate degree without having to study on campus. They have created a learning program to train a large number of staff who work on the country’s infrastructure programs and need to have the latest skills and information. The course materials are presented in modularized workbooks that are custom fit to the student, supplemented by audio and videotapes. Support is provided by a group of specialized tutors. Interaction is enhanced by face-to-face session with the tutors or the professors.

http://www.utcb.ro/TUCEB.html
http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/icdl/export/europe/romania/eurohot/inst/index.htm

Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Madrid, Spain

The Spanish government founded this distance education university in 1972, with the aim of reaching students of all ages, who could not attend conventional universities. Today, The National University of Distance Education in Spain has over 130,000 students, 60 education centers, 21 sub-centers and 9 student support/study centers. Delivery of courses is accomplished using a plethora of materials, primarily texts, but also audio and video cassettes, radio and computer, television, videotex, videoconferencing and tutoring via telephone. Students can also avail of face-to-face tutoring in the education and support centers. While undergraduate courses do require a high school diploma, the university also offers a direct access program, similar to the type of GED program that many community colleges in the US offer.  
http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/icdl/export/europe/spain/univ/inst/index.htm 

FernUniversitat, Hagen, Germany

This distance university located in NordRhein-Westfalen began as a response to the overcrowded state universities for which students were often forced to wait years to attend. The FernUniversitat was founded by the then minister for science and research and this emphasis on science and research is a distinguishing feature of the university. Delivery of courses to distance students is primarily through mailed packages of prepared texts and often these courses are supplemented by audio/video cassettes, regularly scheduled television broadcasts, software and face-to-face teaching in support centers. The FernUniversitat is often referred to as “a traditional university using other means.” (Peters, 1998, p. 184)
http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/FeU/Ueberblick/Uni/welcome.html

Asia

University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong, Asia

The University was founded in 1911, and has nine Faculties and four Schools
The School has eight academic divisions: Accounting and Commerce; Applied Science and Information Technology; Arts and Humanities; Finance and Business; Law; Housing and Built Environment; Social Sciences and Education; Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Some program are delivered in the form of distance learning texts prepared by/for the institution and are supplemented with audio and video cassettes, tutorial support, weekend and evening seminars and lectures. Email is now commonly used, as is on-line Web based delivery. From the latter half of 2000 an on-line platform, SPACE Online Universal Learning (SOUL) will be available to support all students. The courses are taught in English and Chinese. Overseas enrollment is available.
http://www.hku.hk

Open University of Israel: Israel, Southwestern Asia

Since 1976, the Open University of Israel has been offering distance education courses. Its mission was to overcome geographical distance and make higher education possible for all people regardless of their personal and vocational commitments. The Open University of Israel now offers 400 different courses within a wide spectrum of subjects. University designed and published textbooks, tutorials, tutoring by phone, distributed materials such as lab kits, field trips, cable television broadcasts, satellite television, multimedia and computer-mediated teaching are all methods of delivery. A distinctive feature of the Open University of Israel is its emphasis on the "best written lecture." Perhaps this emphasis on carefully selected written lectures is connected to the Jewish temple practices of careful reading from special Talmudic texts. Special courses include Jewish Studies. 
http://www-e.openu.ac.il/introd/

Payame Noor University: Iran, Middle East

Payame Noor was established in 1984 as a small distance teaching university but has since increased its rate of growth. The university offers a wide range of courses and programs leading to bachelor’s degrees. Most of the course material is written for distance learning and including textbooks. Students have the benefit of 167 local study centers and are usually required to meet in a classroom setting between 2 and 16 hours per class.

http://www.pnu.ac.ir/latin/lhome.html
http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/icdl/export/middleea/iran/payameno/inst/index.htm

University of Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea, Australasian

Distance education at the University of Papua New Guinea began in 1976, though it was not until 1985 that the number of registrations began to expand rapidly. Beginning in 1982, University Centers have been established throughout Papua New Guinea. At present there are centers in twelve provinces: East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Fly River, Madang, Manus, New Ireland, North Solomons, Sandaun, Simbu, Southern Highlands, West New Britain and Western Highlands. The UPNG program is based on the New England model, a rarely-encountered form of distance education, in which
the structure and practices of residential education are closely reflected in the extension program. The mode of instruction usually involves the use of tutors meeting with students on a weekly basis, though attendance at these classes is not required. Courses offered at each center are selected from a list of courses available to all centers but tutorial groups generally are offered only if there is enough demand to form a class. Each center coordinates the activities of one or more sub centers, and each forms study groups to permit academic work in isolated areas. In provinces without centers, informal centers and study groups often exist, and isolated students are permitted to enroll as 'outstation students' studying in the correspondence mode. Courses are offered in English. There is no overseas enrollment
http://www.upng.ac.pg

Central America

University of Mexico: Mexico, Central America

Begun in the mid-eighties, the University of Mexico offers education at a distance in some courses, including Engineering, Nursing, Education, Public Administration, Management, and Arts and Sciences. Distance education began with the success of a televised course on robotics and grew from there. Like many conventional universities, the University of Mexico offers distance courses as an alternative to classes on campus for students. It offers courses using instructional television and web-based instruction. Students in the nursing program may also attend classes at remote classroom sites for practicum. http://dec.unm.edu/decbody.htm