Distance Education in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Challenges and Opportunities

Distance Education in Aotearoa / New Zealand:

Challenges and Opportunities

Mark Brown

Director, Teaching, Learning & Distance Education

Feb, 2011

Distance Education in Aotearoa / New Zealand

“A real education takes place on campus!”


“A real education takes place on campus!”


1. What is the state of distance education?

2. Why are distance providers under threat?

3. What are the benefits of distance education?

4. What are some of the underlying tensions?

5. What does the future look like?

Five questions:

1. What is the State of Distance Education?


In 2009…

• 26.5% of all tertiary students studied by distance

• distance students account for 14% of total tertiary EFTS


In 2009…

• the university sector enrolled 25% of distance students (EFTS)

• the ITP sector (mainly polytechnics) accounted for around 35% (EFTS)


In 2009…

• 15% of undergraduate degrees were being studied by distance students

• 18% of postgraduate students (excluding doctorates) study by distance


In 2009…

• almost 80% of all distance students are over 25 years of age


In 2009…

• approximately two-thirds of distance students are female


In 2009…

• approximately 35% of Maori students study by distance


In 2009…

• The Open Polytechnic

- 32,500 distance students

- 5277 EFTS

• Massey University

- 17,500 distance students (18,000 internal students)

- 6525 EFTS

2. Why are Distance Providers Under Threat?

In 2010…

Publication of league tables:

- attrition

- completion

- progression

http://www.tec.govt.nz/




Dear Steven, As a representative of over 17,000 distance students studying at Massey University, I am asking you to reconsider your position on funding distance study. I believe the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) ignores

the societal benefits that distance study provides.

Dear Steven, As a representative of over 17,000 distance students studying at Massey University, I am asking you to reconsider your position on funding distance study. I believe the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) ignores

the societal benefits that distance study provides.

I agree that completion figures must improve but the manner in which

the TES priorities override a common sense solution, distance study, is frustrating for those attempting to capitalize on the opportunities distance study represents. I am one of many that share this opinion.

Ralph Springett (18th Jan, 2011). President’s Blog, EXMSS.

http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/


3. What are the Benefits of Distance Education?


“Distance Education – it has made me the person I am today, a productive

working woman in her late forties contributing to society. I was in my early to middle thirties when I found distance education and… it was a

godsend to enable me to make my life and my son’s life a much better one

in the long term. I wanted to better myself by studying while on a benefit and not being able to afford childcare, distance education was the best way of making my life better.

“Distance Education – it has made me the person I am today, a productive

working woman in her late forties contributing to society. I was in my early to middle thirties when I found distance education and… it was a

godsend to enable me to make my life and my son’s life a much better one

in the long term. I wanted to better myself by studying while on a benefit and not being able to afford childcare, distance education was the best way of making my life better.

I am now employed by a government department in a role helping victims in

the community. I am now in a position that I am not reliant on a benefit and not likely to need one in the future. Where would I be if distance education was not available to me? Still in the same place as I was 12 years

ago, stuck on a benefit with no future to speak of. Now I am… proof that it’s possible to change your life for the better by utilizing distance education”

Sharon (18th Jan, 2011)http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2011/01/18/treat-distance-students-with-respect



What are the social, cultural, health and

economic benefits of distance education to the nation?

http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/tertiary_education/78889


Scott, 2010…

• Higher income (strongly) and rates of employment (moderately)

• Higher economic standard of living (moderately)

• How healthy you think you are, and not being a smoker (both strongly)

• Higher tolerance of immigrants, different values, ways of living, and ethnic diversity (moderately to strongly)

• Volunteering (moderately)

• Whether you voted (moderately for NZ-born only)

• Whether you lived in a household that recycles (moderately)

• Overall satisfaction with life (weakly to moderately)

Education level positively associated with:


http://trends.collegeboard.org/education_pays


In the US…

Median Earnings and Tax Payments of Full-Time

Year-Round Workers Ages 25 and Older, by

Education Level, 2008

Source: The College Board, Education Pays 2010


Labor Force Participation Rates Among Individuals

Ages 25 and Older, by Gender and Education

Level, First Quarter 2010


Unemployment Rates Among Individuals Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 1992–2009


Smoking Rates Among Individuals Ages 25 and Older, by Education Level, 1940–2008


Obesity Rates Among Adults Ages 25 and Older, by Age and Education Level, 2008


Volunteering Rates Among U.S. Citizens,

by Age and Education Level, 2008



“The evidence is overwhelming that higher education improves people’s lives, makes our economy more efficient, and contributes to a more equitable society. The existing gaps in participation and success are detrimental not only to individual lives, but also to society as a whole.

“The evidence is overwhelming that higher education improves people’s lives, makes our economy more efficient, and contributes to a more equitable society. The existing gaps in participation and success are detrimental not only to individual lives, but also to society as a whole.

Different paths are appropriate for different individuals, and our challenge is to make the most promising paths readily available to

students from all backgrounds. We will all be better off if we continue to make progress in this direction”

(Education Pays, 2010, p.9).


4. What are Some of the Underlying Tensions?

Personal Development

Active Citizenship

Public Funded

Standalone

Local Development

Personalization

Quality Assurance

Protected Resources

Distance Education

Economic Development

Knowledge Worker

For Profit

Alliances

Global Development

Standardization

Quality Enhancement

Open Resources

Online Learning

4. What are Some of the Underlying Tensions?

5. What does the Future look like?

5. What does the Future look like?

• Growth of demand for higher education

• Competition from for-profit providers

• Collaborative competitive advantage

• Taking development global

• Blending with purpose

Conclusion

Education for change

rather than education in change!

Conclusion

All education springs from images of the future and all

education creates images of the future. Thus all education,

whether so intended or not, is a preparation for the future.

Unless we understand the future for which we are preparing

we may do tragic damage to those we teach.

(Toffler, 1974).

Education for change

rather than education in change!