New guidelines aim to ensure quality of distance learning

02/03/2020

Institutions offering open and distance learning in Tanzania are expected to adhere to a new set of rules mapped out in the latest edition of the Handbook for Standards and Guidelines for University Education in Tanzania.

Aimed largely at ensuring the quality of open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) programmes, the guidelines were released this month by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU).

In its third edition of the handbook, the commission spells out specific measures, actions and general conditions to guide the growing ODeL segment of higher education.

The guidelines for open and distance education are part of a string of other requirements relating to higher education. Last week, University World News reported that in a bid to improve postgraduate education quality, the guidelines also stipulate that all postgraduate students pursuing either masters or doctoral degrees in Tanzanian universities are required to publish papers in reputable peer-reviewed journals before graduating.

The new guidelines on distance education are an attempt to deal with ODeL more “systematically” than it was in the second edition published in 2014, according to the TCU.

“This is so despite the fact that Tanzania is the only country in East Africa having a national university dedicated to the ODeL mode of delivery, the Open University of Tanzania, while some other residential universities in the country are also practising this delivery approach in a dual system,” the TCU notes.

Comparable quality

The guidelines say that ODeL institutions must offer programmes of the same quality as that of courses offered in physical classrooms, establish learning centres with qualified staff including administrative and academic staff, and provide requisite physical facilities and amenities.

“An ODeL university shall ensure that the quality of the academic programmes offered through the mode as well as face-to-face delivery modes are comparable,” the guidelines stipulate.

The centres must be adequately equipped with administrative and academic staff offices, reading and seminar rooms, well-equipped libraries, audio-visual spaces and computer rooms, with reliable internet and e-mail connectivity.

Licensed institutions will only offer programmes accredited by the TCU and only after the commission has certified that a centre is suitable to host the programmes.

Universities are also required to establish flexible access requirements to programmes, taking into consideration recognition of prior and experiential learning, provision of bridging courses and other support mechanisms, additional course inputs, and increased contact sessions, including special sessions for optimising the use of information and communications technology.

Partnerships

According to the rules signed by TCU Executive Secretary Professor Charles Kihampa, Tanzanian institutions will be free to establish partnerships with ODeL universities abroad under mutually agreed memoranda of understanding.

The rules are also intended to promote blended teaching and learning in universities as a way of expanding higher education access, and for “promoting a life-long learning spirit” in the country.

The commission said that since 1996, when private university institutions started to emerge in Tanzania, there has been an exponential expansion of higher education. The growth led to a 15-fold rise in the higher education gross enrolment ratio between 1997 and 2016.

However, Tanzania still lags behind in higher education access, with enrolment levels below the Sub-Saharan African average of about 8%.

According to the TCU, the new rules are aligned with the East African Community Common Higher Education Area framework, as well as with provisions in international conventions and declarations.

In addition to rules about postgraduate study and ODeL, the new guidelines also introduce the position of ‘professor emeritus’ – a retired professor who will continue to be engaged by a university as an honour for distinguished contribution to academia.

“This would enable the retired professors who deserve to be considered for this position to continue contributing their accumulated knowledge, wisdom and experience to the advancement of the university and the nation at large,” the guidelines state.

By Maina Waruru

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