OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING ADDS VALUE [BOPA report by Lorato Gaofise] Southern Africa countries are grappling with how best to institute purposeful and value adding research in both open and distance learning (ODL) and conventional university scenarios, according to the Head of the European (EU) Commission in Botswana, Mr. Gerard McGovern, has said. Officiating at the International Academic Research Symposium and Book Launch recently hosted by the Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL), Mr. McGovern said he had observed that this was the general background for all countries in Southern Africa. He noted that countries had put in place regulatory and planning instruments to ensure systematic provision of education. He said in Botswana, for example, the Human Resource Development Council had been created to, among other objectives, advise and plan on national human resources. That, he said, was also supported by the common quality assurance policy for education and training. Mr. McGovern also said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development had lately decided to implement the Botswana National Qualifications Framework that would bring all academic qualifications under one credit point system, adding that: “In this endeavour, ODL is duly recognised as a key player in national development, hence the near-completion of the National Open and Distance Learning policy.” Being the first one of its kind in Botswana, Mr. McGovern, said the symposium and book launch was both a historical and defining moment in academic pursuits in the higher education of the young Southern African Development Community (SADC) democracies. The occasion was attended by delegates from 16 universities from around the African continent, was hosted in collaboration with Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), Commonwealth of Learning and SADC Secretariat. The book titled: Preparing Your Dissertation at a Distance came at an appropriate intervention as it would be useful to the ODL students who often conducted research under the guidance institutions that could be far away from their community and in need of rigorous guidance and support, Mr. McGovern said. He added that the book, co-authored by 20 academics actively involved in supervising dissertations at PhD and Master’s level from 16 universities and academic institutions in the sub-region, would also be useful at all stages of the national education system. ZOU vice chancellor, Prof. Primrose Kurasha, noted that the publication would help to address the concerns of ODL students and also enable them to work as effectively as anyone with full support. She pointed out that university research was one of the most important sources of new knowledge. She further stressed that governments should understood that research could help drive the innovation which results in economic growth and development and the importance of a well-educated society that has the skills and training necessary to address the challenges that society faces.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 11:36:01 +0000
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