Vol 6 No 1 (2012) Acceleration  and Improvement of the Quality and Quantity of Education Through the Provision of ODL Programs in SEA Countries

Aminudin Zuhairi - Universitas Terbuka

Endang Nugraheni - Universitas Terbuka

Abstract

This paper addresses  ways and means of expanding  the quantity  and continually  improving  the quality  of higher  education  through  open and distance  learning (ODL),  based on the experience  of Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia.  The discussion  begins with the fundamentals of distance  education,  followed  by the  principles  of quality  assurance and   its  implementation  in  distance   education.  Then,   it  presents some  illustrations  on participation  in  higher education  through  ODL in SEAMEO Member countries. Quality improvement is a major challenge  in ODL,  and effort and  initiatives have  been  put  forth to implement quality  assurance  system  in ODL  in SEAMEO  Member countries.  The  paper  also  presents  specific  experience  and  lessons learnt  from   Indonesia,   particularly   Universitas   Terbuka   (UT),   in responding to the issues of quantity expansion,  improvement of student participation in higher education,  and continual  quality  improvement of ODL.