An Evaluation of student support services in open and distance learning at the University of Namibia

[摘要] Distance education and open and flexible learning policies have done much toextend accessibility to higher education throughout the world. However, distanceeducation is not just a move away from learning in the classroom. It is a completeparadigm shift and when delivering learning materials outside the classroomacross any distance, it is important that technologies and techniques supportstudents. Against this background, the case has been made that the provision ofstudent support services, according to the diverse needs and expectations ofadult distance education students, should be an integral part of the provision ofopen and distance learning.The focal point of this study was to evaluate student support services, providedat the northern campus of the University of Namibia, from a student perspective.A combination of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was chosenand data were collected by means of a literature review and a questionnaire,supplemented with open-ended questions. The subjects of the study weresecond- and third-year B.Ed. students from the northern campus of the Universityof Namibia.The results of this study have provided evidence that adult distance educationstudents indeed value the provision of student support services. Specifically,students in this study placed the greatest importance on student support servicesrelated to getting started with their studies, for example orientation sessionsabout available student support services and contact and communication withtutors and fellow students by means of vacation schools, face-to-face tutorials onSaturdays at regional centres and support through study groups. One of the conclusions of the study was that the institutional policy and the roleof management are crucial in the establishment of an effective student supportmodel to facilitate distance learning.The following recommendations were formulated:The University's Centre for External Studies (CES) should conduct periodic andregular evaluation studies of its distance education students to design, developand provide student support services that will be tailored to students' specificneeds and expectations.CES should pay attention to support services that help reduce barriers if it is toattain its mission of making quality higher education more accessible.CES should provide adequate training to tutors to prepare them for the specialchallenges presented by open and distance learning.CES should design and implement an appropriate Information andCommunication Technology (ICT) course to empower distance educationstudents adequately for the use of modern ICT.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University