The Research Report on the Development of Distance Higher Education in China (2012), the first of its kind in China, was published a few days ago.
As an important part of China’s system of higher education and continuing education, distance higher education has a clear role in building a lifelong learning system and a learning society.
At the same time, the theoretical and practical problems facing the field of distance higher education are becoming increasingly salient. Based on the history of distance higher education in China over the past 30 years, and on the experience of the past 10 years in particular, the report forecasts the future development of distance higher education in China.
The report was edited by Yang Zhijian, president of the Open University of China (OUC), and the major research was undertaken by the OUC Research Institute of Open and Distance Education. The report mainly covers the accumulated research achievements of the various members of the working group. A portion of the content is based on existing and published research about distance higher education in China. The report’s academic views, research approaches and conclusions have been recognized by industry experts and fellow researchers.
The report is divided into three main parts. The first part is on the history and development of distance higher education in China. The second part is on the theory and practice used in distance higher education in China. The third part analyses the development trends in distance higher education in China, focusing on policy and regulation, the application of new technologies, non-degree continuing education, the accreditation of learning outcomes, the construction of a credit bank, and the cultural construction of distance higher education in China. The appendix reviewed the major events in domestic and international distance higher education in 2010-2011, including published works and theses, and important meetings.
The Research Report on the Development of Distance Higher Education in China will be published every year by the OUC. Work on the 2013 report has already started.
By He Jing, the OUC