More institutions offering distance learning courses

22 Oct 2009

An increasing number of colleges are offering distance learning courses.

Distance learning is now a mainstream mode of study in the higher education sector but many colleges still struggle with how best to present their programmes, reports insidehighered.com.

A study released by the Campus Computing Project in conjunction with the Western Co-operative for Educational Telecommunications has revealed that 45 per cent of respondents were unaware whether their programmes were profitable.

Senior representatives of 182 US public and private non-profit colleges were polled in the study, which also found that 45 per cent had reviewed their distance learning courses in the last two years, while 52 per cent were planning to review them in coming months.

The study also found that faculty resistance, lack of key resources, programme accreditation and regulations were among the top impediments to online learning programmes.

Despite the issues, most of the colleges polled were bullish about the performance of online programmes over the next two years, with nearly half (47 per cent) projecting more than 15 per cent growth.

GCSEs and A-levels as well as degree courses are offered through distance learning.