QUESTION 6
Read the following abstract and answer all the provided questions.
Governance Challenges in Distance Education: A Case Study at the Centre for Open and Lifelong
Learning (Coll) of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust)
Jackpelins Muundjua
ABSTRACT
Distance education increasingly acquires popularity as a platform for education delivery as it conduits the
education divergence globally. The nature of the learning process poses challenges, unique and different
from traditional on-campus learning. The researcher acknowledges the various challenges encountered
by distance higher education (HE) centres. More of these challenges emanate from governance-related
concerns. As such, the study attempted to investigate governance challenges in distance HE in Namibia, with
the Centre for Open and Lifelong Learning (COLL) of the Namibian University of Science and Technology
(NUST) as the case study. The study adopted the exploratory research design to explore governance
challenges at the Centre for Open and Lifelong Learning. Questionnaires and interviews were employed
to collect quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The respondents comprised distance education
students, student support staff, regional coordinators, and NUST management. Purposive sampling was
employed to select the sample to ensure that only knowledgeable individuals were targeted for data collection.
The research findings revealed a myriad of challenges encountered by COLL distance students, student
support staff, and NUST management. Most identified shortcomings were related to human resources-,
infrastructural-, and administrative challenges. Despite the identified challenges at COLL, systems, policies,
and strategies remain, aimed at improving quality education delivery to distance students. The study
suggests norms and interventions to establish a normative framework and accompanying strategies to
address the challenges encountered by COLL.
6.1 What was the main purpose of the study in relation to lifelong learning? (2)
6.2 Identify the research approach used to conduct the study. (2)
6.3 Name and explain the two research methods used to collect the data. (4)
6.4 Distance and lifelong students experience various challenges. Identify such three problem
from the abstract. (3)
6.5 Propose two recommendations for solving distance and lifelong education challenges (2)
6.1 The main purpose of the study in relation to lifelong learning was to investigate governance challenges in distance higher education, specifically at the Centre for Open and Lifelong Learning (COLL) of the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
6.2 The research approach used to conduct the study was exploratory research design.
6.3 The two research methods used to collect the data were questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were employed to collect quantitative data, while interviews were used for qualitative data.
6.4 Three challenges identified for distance and lifelong students in the abstract were:
- Human resources challenges
- Infrastructural challenges
- Administrative challenges
6.5 Two recommendations for solving distance and lifelong education challenges could be:
- Implementing better training and support for student support staff to address human resources challenges
- Investing in improving infrastructure and technology to overcome infrastructural challenges.