What is Distance Education? Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom. It has been described as "a process to create and provide access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both."Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason (including taking examinations) have been referred to as hybrid or blended ourses of study.
Today most of the universities have distance education departments.The universities are conducting courses through authorized study centers.Here, Study centers are performing roles such as taking admission, providing contact classes, conducting examinations etc.. and universities are supervising examinations, providing study materials, valuation of answer script & Publishing results, issuing mark sheets and certificates.Study centers act as medium between students and the universities. In India, Distance education concept is different from correspondence course.In this students are getting contact classes and practical classes directly, they can contact their study center for all purposes, can write examinations at their study centres etc...Thus the study centres acting such as a college.
FAQ : A) Is universities are issuing same certificates for Regular / Distance courses? ANS : Yes.Most of the universities are issuing same certificate for both.Students will get certificates from same Faculties.
B) Is it mention " Distance Education" in Certificates? ANS : No,Mot of the universities are giving same certificate and mark sheets.But some universities will mention it on Mark sheets, but not in certificates(provisional / Convocation).
C) About Syllabus? Depends.In some universities, syllabus for both regular and Distance Courses will be same.For example, Calicut University, Kerala University, MG University ,Alagappa university etc....But in most of the university,DDE follows Year system instead of semester.
Correspondence / Private Studies correspondence course is an academic class that is taken — and taught — across some geographical distance. The original correspondence courses were carried out through the postal service. Professors would mail assignments and lecture notes to students, who would return essays and projects for grading. Students anywhere can take classes without having to physically be present at the school.
Correspondence often called Private Studies, is different from Distance Education,because,in this system, students have to learn themselves.The universities will provide study materials and notes only.Students are not getting direct classes from lecturers.So this is a self study mode.Practical oriented courses such as Computer / Technology can not learn trough this.Because it requires class room knowledge.
Collaborative Education In this System, Universities will appoint institutions with adequate infrastructure facilities, manpower, class rooms, practical facilities etc... to conduct courses as regular programs.The Institutions are called as Partner Institutions which are like affiliated colleges.Separate departments are established by universities.These departments will control the entire activities except conduct of examinations and issue of certificates(these are done by Controller Of Examinations) and named as " Directorate of Collaborative education". For example, some medical colleges and hospitals are conducting healthcare courses such as BSc-Optometry, MBA-Hospital Administration/ MHA etc...
Universities & Higher Education Institutions with Distance Programs
Kerala's No.1 Distance Education Provider
Anna University of Technology
ALAGAPPA UNIVERSITY (Accredited with "A: Grade by NAAC)