Mapping the interplay between open distance learning and internationalisation principles

Authors

  • Pumela Msweli University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v13i3.1182

Keywords:

distance educatoion, open universitites, higher education

Abstract

Open distance learning is viewed as a system of learning that blends student support, curriculum and instruction design, flexibility of learning provision, removal of barriers to access, credit of prior learning, and other academic activities such as programme delivery and assessment for the purpose of meeting the diverse needs of students. Internationalisation, on the other hand, is viewed as a process that blends intercultural international dimensions into different academic activities, such as teaching, learning, and research, into the purpose and functions of higher education. The common feature in the narratives that define open distance learning and internationalisation is the blending of university services to achieve specific outcomes. This blending feature has instigated an inquiry into identifying the interplay between the two concepts in as far as how the concepts are defined and what their goals and rationale are in the context of higher education institutions. While there are a breadth and variety of interpretations of the two concepts, there are differences and common features. The purpose of such an analysis is to open a new window through which institutions of higher learning can be viewed.

Author Biography

Pumela Msweli, University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership

Area Head: HR and Leadership

Full Professor

Graduate School of Business

Published

2012-04-27

How to Cite

Msweli, P. (2012). Mapping the interplay between open distance learning and internationalisation principles. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 13(3), 97–116. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v13i3.1182

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Publication Facts

Metric
This article
Other articles
Peer reviewers 
3
2.4

Reviewer profiles  N/A

Author statements

Author statements
This article
Other articles
Data availability 
N/A
16%
External funding 
N/A
32%
Competing interests 
N/A
11%
Metric
This journal
Other journals
Articles accepted 
81%
33%
Days to publication 
111
145

Indexed in

Editor & editorial board
profiles
Academic society 
N/A
Publisher 
Athabasca University Press