2. E-learning Distance Education
in Estonia

3. Infrastructure for open and
distance education started in
Estonia in 1994.
Estonian universities are
well prepared for distance
education as they are equipped
with experts familiar with
educational concepts and have
established contacts with
international universities and
DE centres in other countries.

4. One third of the total numbers of students in Estonia has
participated in at least one online course. The large majority of
these courses are offered in a blended form as support to ordinary
face to face sessions. Distance education programmes are offered
mostly by the Open University offices within traditional
universities in Estonia. Currently there are no DE programmes
that can be provided fully online.
The major providers of distance education are:
• University of Tartu
• Tallinn University of Technology
• Tallinn University

5. University of Tartu
The Open University is a
successful hallmark of the University
of Tartu and it covers both degree
education and continuing education
programmes through distance
education or other “unconventional”
learning environments. The activities
are coordinated by the Open
University Office.
There are currently 135 online
courses with approximately 5000
students on offer in distance
education programmes.

6. Tallinn University of Technology
There are about 120
courses are currently
available online in a
blended form to support the
studies of on-campus
students.
The university exhibits
no significant online DE
initiatives.

7. Tallinn University
There are about 350
active online courses listed in
the university’s own and most
of them are blended courses
for on campus students. There
are only about 50 DE courses
available.

8. E-learning Distance Education
in Latvia

9. Distance Education as a study form has been developed since
1993 in Latvia. Universities and other higher educational
institutions widely offer continuing education, different
courses to update the knowledge and skills.
e-University of the University of Latvia
• The University of Latvia with more than 29 thousand students (23%
of Latvian higher education market) is the largest university not
only in Latvia, but also the largest in the Baltic states.
Riga Technical University Distance
Education Study Centre
• The objective of the Centre is to develop distance education in
Latvia using innovative applications of information and
communication technologies.
• Its target users are both adults who wish to develop basic skills and
e-learning professionals.

10. E-learning Distance Education
in Lithuania

11. Priorities
Development of Distance Education in Lithuania (LieDM) sub-
programme executes following priorities:
• Co-operation among higher education institutions in distance
education development.
• Higher education infrastructure based on modern
telecommunications, information, and video conference
technologies.
• Virtual universities and enhancement of e-learning.
• Lithuanian distance education system.
Elearning Providers
• Kaunas University of Technology Distance Education Centre
The Distance Education Centre was established at Kaunas
University of Technology in 1996.The mission of the Centre
is to promote and develop the higher and further education
system supported by information and communication
technologies.

12. • Lithuanian Distance Education Network
The objective is to generate and coordinate higher education studies and
continuous training system based on information and telecommunication
technologies in order to ensure Lithuania developing features of the
information society.