Open and Distance Higher Education in the European Community. Report from the Commission.

Overview & Synopsis

In response to obsolescence of knowledge and increased need for continuing education, open and distance higher education formats for higher education are being developed in Europe. These formats use technological advances to make continuing education available. Many European Community nations have well organized systems of open university education. However, the investment in continuing education for adults is low. Distance education involves students working alone using materials developed centrally and distributed to home or work place. Open universities are not involved in research and the development of new knowledge. As it has developed, distance education has made use of more divers kinds of media and methods for instruction and an almost industrial approach to knowledge transfer. Much attention is paid to feedback in the design of materials and the organization of student support services. Organizational features are diverse and depend on national decision making processes. Modern technology will facilitate the development of a European network between open universities. Language teaching will receive special attention. A meeting of experts in distance education and training from European Community member nations met in 1990 to discuss their countries' national priorities and agreed at that time to contribute to a survey on priorities. Replies from 11 Member States are summarized in this report. An appendix lists facts and figures on open and distance teaching universities in Europe. (JB)