Where To Go For Distance Learning Education In Th United Kingdom?For people in the UK, distance learning is gaining popularity because it has become a popular choice amongst students. It is possible to combine studies with professional commitments at the end of which a top quality qualification is conferred which is equal in status to that of their university counterparts with an accredited and recognized system. Other advantages are that one can study at one's own time with costs reduced and one doesn't have to come to UK to obtain a degree. Where to find the relevant information? The links for such courses are available at www.educationuk.org, www.odlqc.org.uk/courses.htm and http://icdl.open.ac.uk/courses.One can check the quality with the Quality Assurance Agency website for any university course at www.qaa.ac.uk. Another website where the quality check can be done is www.odlqc.org.uk. Since the UK government has decided on an initiative to promote lifelong learning through open and distance learning, one can see the information at www.learndirect.co.uk. Finding that there are some difficulties for students in terms of time and funding to come to London to study, most of the schools have developed a distance education programme to make advanced training widely available with a protocol that the distance learners should receive same standard as those on London-based students. What to expect from an open university? The motto of the Open University in England is "open as to people, open as to places, open as to methods, open as to ideas". It is the largest university in the UK. It is totally meant for Distance learning with rankings amongst the top UK universities for quality of teaching, research and teaching materials. Only postgraduate students need to take an entrance test, otherwise it is open to all other courses. There are over 600 courses and qualifications at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels. The undergraduate qualifications consist of certificates, diplomas, and general honors degrees in the arts or science streams. Students can enroll into one course at a time and accumulate credits as they go receive all study materials and complete the course. One course lasts from 6 - 9 months, but there are courses which can go longer also. A brochure can be requested at www.open.ac.uk for all the information one may need. One should apply before the courses start. Each course has different fee structure. The graduate programs also include programs on management which are general business studies to launch a successful career in management studies. People end up in executive positions without any prior experience on managing people and resources. What is the University of London External Problems? The University of London External Programme was established in 1858 to make the outside students avail the degree certificate through distance leaning. It is a good option for people with financial constraints, work commitments and lack local access to higher education. About 40,000 external students in more than 180 countries are registered for different subjects under University of London qualifications. It is a dream come true for many students who would not have availed such a facility under their circumstances. |