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SCMP Reporter

Distance learning is a cost-effective way to enhance productivity in Asian countries, a leading academic says.

 Professor Tam Sheung-wai, president of the Open University of Hong Kong, said distance education equipped executives with new knowledge in a life-long learning process.

  'Recent developments and reforms in education, technology and instructional design have eliminated the barriers of distance and times as instructors and students can communicate electronically,' Professor Tam said.

 'Distance education in Hong Kong is not a matter of geography but a way to provide open access to those who seek higher education to meet the challenges of the changing environment,' he said.

  Professor Tam said distance learning had grown quickly in recent years. People were being equipped with new knowledge and early school leavers were getting learning opportunities to meet employment challenges.

  'This is a global trend for people in pursuit of life-long learning and we can see, in many Asian countries, open universities are establishing on a fast track.'   Student enrolment in October this year remained high, with 5,421 new students. In the same period last year, 5,792 students were admitted.

  Professor Tam said even though the economy was in a trough, the demand for further studies was on an upswing.

  'More adult workers are trying to improve their competitiveness to face the challenges of the economic downturn,' he said.

  The Open University has set up a $40 million digital library to put more than 500,000 books on-line.

    An electronic database of examination papers can also be retrieved through a network computer.

  'On-line education is our goal in the coming years to help people take distance education in anywhere.

  'We are pledged to invest more resources into Internet learning,' the professor said.

  The Open University will strengthen its collaboration with mainland China on open learning education with the Radio and Television University.

  A pilot scheme will be held in Shanghai next year to shift the medium of instruction from educational radio and television programmes to an open university.

  Dr Joanne Capper, senior education specialist of the World Bank, said the importance of distance learning in uncertain times benefited the development of human capital in a cost-effective way.

  She said people preferred to improve themselves through distance education in economically hard times and she expected the number of distance learners to increase.

 'A greater number of people receiving long-life learning helps to keep productivity high.

  'It contributes to society, the family and the tax base and helps national economic prosperity,' she said.



Distant education cost-effective for Asian countries