A survey of Open, Distance and Electronic Learning Mode in Kenyan Universities with a bias to Administration, Delivery and Evaluation functions

Abstract

Open, Distance and electronic learning (ODeL) is rapidly gaining acceptance as a means of course delivery on institutions of higher learning all over the world. It has progressively evolved from a peripheral concern to an in evitable developmental agenda that policy makers, education providers, market industry and other interested stake holders have to contend with. Rapid developments in ICTs, rising mobility of people, programmes and institutions across borders and the un ending quest for higher education are among the key push factors for propelling to ODeL agenda to high priority. However, advocacy for the promotion of ODeL, and skeptism about ODeL programmes and products persist at an equal measure. In this paper, a survey on Open, Distance and electronic learning in Kenyan Universities was done. The study also considered involvement of some project management concepts in the running of ODeL programmes in Kenyan Universities. The study involved four Universities. The research design was descriptive and the respondents were selected using stratified random sampling. Closed and open questionnaires were distributed randomly to a representative sample of the population which was used to collect data. The data was then recorded and coded in Microsoft excel soft ware for analysis, interpretation and representation. The study found out that Kenyan Universities are providing ODeL students with most of the necessary support services in terms of content access, participation, orientations as well as creating a conducive environment for learning especially to those students who would have missed the access for higher education through face- to - face interaction. However, the study found out that Kenyan Universities lack some more effective interactive modem information technologies as compared to Open Universities from developed countries.