Distance Education Council.

Overview & Synopsis

Since its inception in India in 1962, distance education has grown in popularity. The Distance Education Council (DEC) directs distance learning within India's higher education system. The DEC's promotion, coordination, and maintenance of standards for distance education are its three major roles. Its initiatives include grants, support for technology, quality assurance measures, development of standards and guidelines for degree programs, and technical assistance for new open universities. Collaboration programs at the national and international level also exist, and focus on such topical areas as MBA degrees, B.Ed. degrees, self-assessment of the open university system, and information and data exchange. Areas for future activity are listed and include the development of an open education network, technical assistance to state government, audio-visual support, research project support, Web-based initiatives, quality assurance measures, database support, and transformation of correspondence study programs into distance education programs. A listing of open universities and institutions offering correspondence programs is provided, as well as a map of India indicating locations of open and distance education institutions. (HB)