How to create opportunities for adults in distance education?

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STATE OF AFFAIRS

approximately 3 million students are enrolled in distance teaching universities in Europe (IDEAL - Distance education offer of European higher education institutions);

29% of the adult population in OECD countries in Europe have completed tertiary education (OECD);

In 15 years an expected increase to 400 million HE students worldwide from today 200 million.

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IDEALhttp://idealproject.eu/

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IDEAL AIMShttp://idealproject.eu/

Offer insights on the needs of adult learners to both policy makers and distance education providers;

Strengthen the social dimension of higher education by better meeting the needs of adult learners;

Increase the participation of adult learners in higher education through distance education.

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IDEAL STUDIEShttp://idealproject.eu/

Study 1: European distance education offer

Study 2: Enrolled distance education students

Study 3: Potential distance education students

Final report with META analysis of the three studies and recommendations. Also includes:

Overview of previous findings; Overview of distance education (historical note, world

scenario, European landscape); Concept clarification.

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DATA SOURCES

Institutional survey

Distance Learning Portal

Prospective students survey

Enrolled student survey

Study choice analytics

Case studies

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DATA SOURCES

DistanceLearningPortal.com

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DEMAND AND OFFER IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

Appli

ed Sci

ences,

Profe

ssion

s & Arts

Busin

ess an

d Econ

omics

Engine

ering

&Techn

ology

Enviro

nment

al Scie

nces

Human

ities&

Art Law

Life Sc

iences

, Med

icine&

Health

Natural

Scien

ces

Social

Scienc

es0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Offer and interest of different disciplines in distance learning

Offer Interest

Source: Upcoming research report

Data based on DistanceLearningPortal.com – 9 million page views and 750,000 log information about student browsing behavior and offered programmes.

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DISTANCE EDUCATION

NEXT 5 YEARS

Source: Distance Education in European Higher Education - The OfferSurvey – 167 leaders of Higher Education institutions

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MOTIVATION TO ENTER DISTANCE EDUCATION

Source: Upcoming research report

Survey – 427 potential students (DistanceLearningPortal.com visitors)

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BARRIERS TO ENTER DISTANCE EDUCATION

Source: Upcoming research report

Survey – 427 potential students (DistanceLearningPortal.com visitors)

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The provision of online education as the main mode of distance education responded to most

adult learners’ requests for more flexible learning opportunities.

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PRESSURE ON HIGHER EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY

DEMANDS FROM LEARNERS

INCREASED FLEXIBLITY

POLICIES

DEVELOPMENTS IN PEDAGOGICAL THEORIES

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CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

POLICY

Finland – no separate open or distance teaching universities

Greece – mentioned with “Education and Lifelong Learning” policy

Hungary – no DE on Master level; no laws mentioning e-learning

UK – laws that indirectly influence DE (QA framework)

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FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN DISTANCE EDUCATION

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Finland – status of degree student can be obtained after pursuing courses in open university

Germany – highest degree from the school system, or degree from vocational sector; recognition of degree from vocational training

Greece – graduation from secondary education; no systematic procedure for recognition of prior learning or work experience

Hungary – school leaving examination certificate and enough entry points; no alternative admission; no systematic procedure for recognition of prior learning or work experience

UK – “access diplomas” programmes; recognition of credit transfer from equivalent level of study elsewhere; accreditation of (prior) experiential learning

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RECOMMENDATIONS

POLICIES

National higher education policies were not in place but should be developed and implemented.

That could lead to reduced regulative barriers and to developed standard procedures on the recognition of prior learning.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

TECHNOLOGY

Higher education institutions should be advised to better communicate and use new media for providing further access possibilities.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

LEARNERS

Limitations in possibilities for interaction hampered learning and may prevent adult learners to participate in distance education.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

PEDAGOGY

Implement teaching methods appropriate for the needs of adult learners in higher education

Shift towards student-centered teaching modes that support adult learner’s autonomy and self-direction (especially with regards to putting theoretical knowledge into practice)

Continuous teacher support for Distance HE students and empathetic dialogue

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RECOMMENDATIONS

PEDAGOGY

It is highly recommended to improve teaching methods and skills and to embed learning with good study guides, improved possibilities for interaction and support structures meeting the needs of adult learners.

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GET IN TOUCH

Carmen Neghina – Education Intelligence Specialist (StudyPortals) Carmen@studyportals.com

Carl Holmberg - Senior Adviser (International Council for Open and Distance Education)holmberg@icde.org