Open and Distance Learning (ODL) as a Viable Provider of Quality Higher Education: The Case of Open University Malaysia (OUM)

With today’s highly intense international competition, countries, particularly those in the developing world, have no choice but to turn to education to enhance the productive capability of their human capital in order to remain competitive and sustainable. With the current global economic crisis,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Anuwar Ali,
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Published: 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/303/1/Binder1.pdf
http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/303/
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Summary:With today’s highly intense international competition, countries, particularly those in the developing world, have no choice but to turn to education to enhance the productive capability of their human capital in order to remain competitive and sustainable. With the current global economic crisis, this task has become even more urgent and pertinent. In this regard, open and distance learning (ODL) has gained increasing acceptance as a provider of quality education to the masses in these countries. This paper shares the experience of Open University Malaysia (OUM) as the first and foremost ODL University in Malaysia in providing quality education to its learners. With its motto, “University for All”, OUM utilises the blended mode of delivery, leveraging significantly on the latest appropriate technology, to effectively contribute towards increasing access to higher education. The paper also outlines OUM’s unique challenges as an ODL higher education institution (HEI) as well as measures that had been undertaken to address them through appropriate policies, processes and practices. The experience of OUM provides evidence to reaffirm the belief that an ODL HEI is indeed a viable provider of quality higher education for all. (Author's abstract)