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Distance Education's Impact on Access and Success in Public Universities

This report by Jennifer Glennie in April 2013 explores the significant contribution of distance education to access and success within the public university system. It delves into the provision of distance education, its benefits for older students, accessibility to various student groups, cost advantages, and success rates in terms of credit and throughput. The study highlights the evolution and improvements in distance education quality, design, and learner support, leading to enhanced success rates and graduation outcomes. The report also addresses the challenges of retention and throughput in distance education, comparing South Africa's statistics with global trends.

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Distance Education's Impact on Access and Success in Public Universities

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  1. Contribution of Distance Education to Access and Success in the Public University System Jennifer Glennie April 2013

  2. Distance Education Contribution to Access • Distance hovers around 40% of total university headcount enrolment

  3. Distance Education Contribution to Access • As most distance students are part-time, distance FTE proportion is around 28%

  4. 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

  5. Distance Education Contribution to Access:Older students Age profile

  6. Distance Education Contribution to AccessOlder students Age profile • Xx

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. But what of success in distance education? • FTE credit success rate • Throughput rate

  10. FTE Credit Success Rates • FTE Distance Credits/FTE Distance 2000 - 54% 2011 – 68% • FTE Contact Credits/FTE Contact 2000 - 74% 2011 – 79%

  11. FTE Credit Success Rates ChangesDistance: from 54% to 68%Contact: from 74% to 79%

  12. 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

  13. The elephants in the room… Retention Throughput

  14. Throughput in other parts of the world:

  15. 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

  16. Distance Education Graduates in 2011 Level CESM

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