Transcript Slide 1
Contribution of Distance Education to Access and Success in the Public University System Jennifer Glennie April 2013 Distance Education Contribution to Access • Distance hovers around 40% of total university headcount enrolment Distance Education Contribution to Access • As most distance students are part-time, distance FTE proportion is around 28% Where is the Provision? • Largely at Unisa after a clampdown in policy on distance provision • Draft policy (2012) opens opportunity to, even encourages, institutions to offer distance – Part of the imperative to increase university participation rates • DHET quite cautious on the basis of previous experience of many low cost, poor quality, high profit endeavours – so quality assurance imperative Distance Education Contribution to Access: Older students Age profile Age profile • Xx Distance Education Contribution to Access Older students Distance Education Contribution to Access • Accessible to working students, students in remote areas, students with other commitments • More accessible to disabled students • More flexible entry requirements Distance Education Contribution to Access Lower cost for the system • Input subsidy currently half of ‘contact’ • Fees for a qualification in distance tend to be half that for a ‘contact’ qualification • Most often, no additional accommodation costs But what of success in distance education? • FTE credit success rate • Throughput rate FTE Credit Success Rates • FTE Distance Credits/FTE Distance 2000 - 54% 2011 – 68% • FTE Contact Credits/FTE Contact 2000 - 74% 2011 – 79% FTE Credit Success Rates Changes Distance: from 54% to 68% Contact: from 74% to 79% Why the increase? No Randomised Control Trail, but surmise • Greater attention to programme and course design – team approach • Greater attention to materials design which take account of student profiles • Some improved attention to learner support – although usually remedial The elephants in the room… Retention Throughput Throughput in other parts of the world: Throughput in South Africa • Early studies – 5.2% to 36% of those who started in a programme graduated • DHET and Unisa processing some studies on distance education currently • Indications are that throughput rates for one (FTE) year qualifications have much better throughput rates Distance Education Graduates in 2011 Dip/Cert UG Deg PG Dip/Hons Other Total Distance Level Distance % of all Graduates Graduates 19 659 37% 10 078 16% 10 278 32% 780 7% 40 795 25% CESM