A number of distance education providers have been established out of the Open University movement. Two examples of distance education institutions in the East Asian and Pacific region are Korea National Open University (KNOU) and the Open University of China (OUC). KNOU is in a developed country while OUC is in developing China. Although similar, they each have their own distinctive history, populations, technology, pedagogy, and quality assurance practices.
History
The Korean and Chinese government played a pivotal role in the development of distance education in these two countries by providing financial and legislative support (Motlik, 2008).
KNOU was established in 1972 as Korea Air and Correspondence College (KACC) and was an extension of the Seoul National University offering two-year junior college programs. Demand for higher education led to KACC becoming independent from Seoul National University and offering five-year university programs (Jung, 2000). Today, KNOU has a central location, 13 regional study centers, and 31 local study centers (Jung, 2000). KNOU offers 22 undergraduate programs and 18 graduate programs as well as non-degree courses such as the second life and design course, employee courses, and courses specific for those in the 40 to 60 and 60 to 80 age group (http://www.knou.ac.kr/engknou2/).
The OUC was …show more content…
OUC is a public welfare university and its mission is to uphold lifelong learning through “openness, responsibility, quality, diversity and internationalization” (http://en.ouchn.edu.cn/index.php/about/general-information). OUC student population consists of those who seek a university degree and work full-time, secondary school graduates, those living in rural or remote areas, and disabled persons (Peters, 2005 and 2001). Adult students are motivated to gain certification and continue education in hopes to gain upward mobility in their professional positions (Kawachi,
History
The Korean and Chinese government played a pivotal role in the development of distance education in these two countries by providing financial and legislative support (Motlik, 2008).
KNOU was established in 1972 as Korea Air and Correspondence College (KACC) and was an extension of the Seoul National University offering two-year junior college programs. Demand for higher education led to KACC becoming independent from Seoul National University and offering five-year university programs (Jung, 2000). Today, KNOU has a central location, 13 regional study centers, and 31 local study centers (Jung, 2000). KNOU offers 22 undergraduate programs and 18 graduate programs as well as non-degree courses such as the second life and design course, employee courses, and courses specific for those in the 40 to 60 and 60 to 80 age group (http://www.knou.ac.kr/engknou2/).
The OUC was …show more content…
OUC is a public welfare university and its mission is to uphold lifelong learning through “openness, responsibility, quality, diversity and internationalization” (http://en.ouchn.edu.cn/index.php/about/general-information). OUC student population consists of those who seek a university degree and work full-time, secondary school graduates, those living in rural or remote areas, and disabled persons (Peters, 2005 and 2001). Adult students are motivated to gain certification and continue education in hopes to gain upward mobility in their professional positions (Kawachi,