This article discusses a recently developed educational alternative in the United States. This is the "university without walls," characterized by independent study combined with vocational training. (Text is in German.) (Author/AM)

Results of a questionnaire survey of 67 persons from the nonacademic community who served as Community Faculty are presented. Included are demographic characteristics of the faculty, descriptions of student-faculty relationships, feelings about students, attitudes toward credits for life experience and remuneration, role definitions, and attitudes…

This paper examines the origins, objectives and structures, funding and cost, programs, learners, and teaching and learning of the radio and television universities in China and the British Open University (BOU). It also discusses the nature and role of each of these entities, including growth and development of higher education and the…

An analysis of developments at the Open University since 1973 indicates that there has been little reduction in average cost in real terms and that no improvement is likely on known developments to 1979. Reasons for this are explored, and suggestions for improving the situation are offered. (Editor/LBH)

This book challenges the notion that the open university is a recent invention and argues that in Britain there is a long and varied tradition of similar developments, and that there has been a significant 20th century reduction in the openness of universities, particularly in the period from the 1950s to the 1970s. Selected examples of open…

A regional program of pre-university courses in northwestern England open to adults with no entry qualifications is discussed. It uses some distance learning techniques but is investigating expansion to technical education through distance learning. The complexities and potential costs of such a substantial directional change are examined. (MSE)

This report of a conference on distance learning/adult education programs contains the following papers: "Adult Learners, Distance Education, and Technology: It's the Future, but Can We Get There from Here?" (Gulliver, Wright); "Minority Student Response to External Adult Degree Program Education" (Gillett, Sutphin); "Methods in Project…

The way that the Open University system in Great Britain operates and the use of the mass media are discussed in detail. A number of problems the adult student is likely to face are identified, along with basic differences between U.S. and British societies that influence the application of an open university approach. Attention is directed to:…

This guide on implementation of open learning in Great Britain provides information on resourcing, resource deployment, and costing and pricing. It begins by drawing attention to points of importance to those engaged in forming policy on the provision of open learning. These are presented in a series of flowcharts giving quick reference to…

The use and effectiveness of study centers and study center networks as a support system in distance education were investigated, based on interviews with students, tutors, and coordinators of four Australian distance education systems. The investigation of study centers at the University of Queensland, the Riverina College of Advanced Education,…

The University Without Walls (UWW) programs at seven colleges were examined to identify common programmatic features and to determine both student and faculty/staff views of this educational endeavor. Attention was focused on the degree-granting process at the institutions. A total of 513 student questionnaires and 190 faculty/staff questionnaires…

This report presents findings from the second national survey of distance education undertaken by the National Center for Education Statistics. The survey covers the 12-month 1997-98 academic year and includes data for higher education institutions as well as all 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions. Highlights of the report include the…

Completion and cost data for six courses delivered in two different modes--home study and paced package--through Athabasca University were analyzed. Students in a home study course received tutorial support via the telephone and progress through the course was at the discretion of each individual learner. Students in a paced package course…

The Open University is recognized as a model of innovation in higher education, not merely for advances in the use of communications technology, but also for demonstrating the applications of such principles of technology as systems design, division of labor, and management by objectives to the educational tasks of course development, instruction,…

The expansion of higher education in the United States has resulted in a variety of outreach programs to bring postsecondary education off the campus and into the community. New systems and programs of nontraditional study have emerged. Issues of current concern in open learning include: quality and effectiveness, outreach and access, research and…