Intraglobal Training Institute School of Distance & E-Learning

The School of Open and Distance Learning (SODL) was established in 2003. The mandate and scope of SODL is to develop, co-ordinate, promote and manage all open and distance learning programmes of Intraglobal Training Institute. Its Vision is to be a Regional and International centre of excellence and choice for open and distance learning programmes. SODL is headed by a Principal who is answerable to the Director, Academic Affairs and has four departments each headed by a HOD.

DISTANCE EDUCATION 
WHAT?

 
Today two terms that are being used almost inter-changeably are ‘Open Learning
’ and ‘Distance Education ’ and they are often combined to be known as Open and Distance Learning (ODL). Open learning is a philosophy and Distance Education is the mode used for translating it into reality as the two are complementary to each other.

Distance Education at Intraglobal Training Institute School of Distance & E-Learning

(DE) is an umbrella term which describes all the teaching learning arrangements in which the learner and the teacher are separated by space and time. In fact it is a mode of delivering education and instruction to learners who are not physically present in a traditional setting of a classroom.
Transaction of the curriculum is effected by means of specially prepared materials (self-study (learning) materials) which are delivered to the learners at their doorstep through various media such as print, television, radio, satellite, audio/video tapes, CD
-ROMs, Internet and World Wide Web and so on. Also a technological medium replaces the inter-personal communication of conventional classroom based education that takes place between the teacher and the learners. Communication between the institutions, teacher and learners is mainly through electronic media (telephone, interactive radio counselling, teleconferencing, video conferencing, chat sessions, email, website and WhatsApp) It is also done through postal correspondence or courier services and limited face to face contact sessions held at Study Centres that are set up by the DE of the Institute which could be close to the learners’ homes.
Open Learning
Open learning, which covers a wide range of innovations and reforms in the educational sector that advocates flexibility to the learner with regard to entry and exit; pace and place of study; method of study and also the choice and combination of courses; assessment and course completion. The Open learning system aims to redress social or educational inequality and to offer opportunities not provided by conventional institutions or universities.
Educational opportunities are planned deliberately so that access to education is available to larger sections of the society.
WHY?
ODL occupies a special place in the regional higher education system because of its major contribution in enhancing the gross enrollment ratio and of higher education to large segments of the African and world population particularly to reach out to the unreached and to meet the demands of lifelong learning which has become more of a necessity in the knowledge society.
The major objectives of DE system are:

• To liberalize higher education to large segments of the population, in particular the disadvantaged groups such as those living in remote and rural areas, working people.
• To provide an innovative system of college and university-level education which is both flexible and open in terms of methods and pace of learning; combination of courses, eligibility for enrollment, age of entry, conduct of examination and implementation of the programmes of study;
• To provide an opportunity for up-gradation of skills and qualifications; and
• To develop education as a lifelong activities which will enable people to update their knowledge or acquire it in new areas.

HOW?
Africa has the lowest DE systems in the world which is led by China followed by India. DLE is the most convenient system of acquiring education from wherever one may be.