Towards Virtualization: Open and Distance Learning

In the information age the ICTs, particularly in Internet and the World Wide Web, are acting as fundamental drivers of change in the educational landscape across the planet. The spread of ICTs and its impact on higher education across the continent has been presented in the form of 34 case studies of virtual universities, dual mode universities and single mode open universities in this book. This edited collection of current practices presents a fascinating picture of the world and its educational culture in transition. In the process the editors have highlighted some of the new realities—impacting the global higher education scenarios at the beginning of the 21 century, such as, emergent organizational models of higher education, changing demographics, the demand for life long learning, the digital divide, etc. The editors have also discussed some of the issues that would confront this sector in the next 25 years. The epilogue embodies the vision of eminent distance educators who have predicted what shape open and distance learning would take in the 21 century. Hence this would be a must read for researchers, educators, teachers, policy makers including media giants and industrialists all those who are in the business of higher education.