Here discussed the Distance education scenario of Australia. Australia is one of the important path founders of distance education in the world. I hope this presentation can help you to understand some significant aspects of Distance education in Australia.

1. Distance Education in
Australia
Shuvankar Madhu
Assistant Professor
University of Burdwan

2. Australia

3. Distance
Education in
Australia
One-third of Australia’s 25,499,884 people live in rural
and regional Australia.
These huge numbers of people spend a lot of money on
services like education, health, etc. but do not get it like
in urban areas.
The goal of public education in Australia has always been
equality of opportunity for all students, regardless of
their geographical, social or economic situation.
Therefore, Australia emphasizes Distance Education in
an effort to equalize educational opportunities.

4. Distance Education
in Australia
There are three stages in the history of distance education in Australia:
1.Correspondence/external studies, (1910–1970s).
2.Distance education, (early 1970s to mid-1980s).
3.Open, flexible and online learning, (mid-1980s to the present day).

5. 1.Correspondence/external studies
➢ Mainly operated by post or mail system.
➢ Lack of direct interaction of students with the teacher.
➢ this system lasted from 1910 to 1970.
Stages in the history of distance education in Australia

6. 2.Distance education
➢ Using multimedia.
➢ Two-way communication to clearing students' doubts.
➢ This system lasted from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s
Distance Education in AustraliaStages in the history of distance education in Australia

7. 3.Open, flexible and online learning,
➢ Using the internet and digital technologies.
➢ Increases student-teacher / student-student interaction.
➢ More flexible and more open system.
➢ This system has been in place since the mid-1980s.
Distance Education in AustraliaStages in the history of distance education in Australia

8. Some
important
aspects of
distance
education in
Australia
In 1911, University
of Queensland’s
(UQ) became the
first university in
the southern
hemisphere and one
of the first in the
world to offer
degree-level
external studies
(Cunningham et al.
1997).
University of North
England (UNE)
establishes a model
of dual-mode study,
Which influence
many institutions
throughout
Australia and
around the world.
By 1981 there were
13 universities
providing external
courses across the
nation and
recognised by the
Tertiary Education
Commission.

9. Some important aspects of distance
education in Australia
In 1992, Open Learning
Australia (OLA) was launched
to meet the needs of the large
number of students who
apparently could not gain
access by conventional means.
In the last decade, the
proportion of domestic
students studying externally
has increased from 21 to 25%,
or 29% if the private Open
Universities Australia (OUA)
is included.

10. Special
services in
distance
education in
Australia
Lecture Capture
OER
(open education
resources)
MOOCs
(massive open
online courses)
U3A Online

11. Lecture Capture
➔ It helps students who have difficulties in
scheduling, language, terminology or concepts.
➔ Helps those who want to review the content.

12. OER
(Open Education Resources)
➔ Australian universities have played a leading role in the use of open education
resources.
➔ Australia has developed a National Roadmap to support policies for the
(re)use and production of open education resources (OER), promote
innovative pedagogical models, and respect and empower learners as
co-producers in their lifelong learning.

13. MOOCs
(Massive Open Online Courses)
➔ Australian universities are creating their own MOCs to recognize people
wanting to learn differently and effectively.
➔ Several institutions, including the Australian National University, Monash
University, and the University of Queensland, are making some contributions
to the Global MOOC platform.

14. U3A Online ★ U3A (University of the Third Age) started
in Melbourne, Australia in 1984 and has
spread rapidly to other parts of Australia.
★ U3A, an international movement that
provides low cost, informal lifelong
learning for millions of retired people
around the world.
★ Conducted through Online.
★ No prior qualifications are required and
no degrees are awarded.

15. Accreditation and Quality Assurance
in distance education in Australia
Accreditation
Australia’s universities are
self-accrediting have a reasonably
high level of autonomy to operate
within the legislative requirements
associated with their Australian
Government funding.
Quality Assurance
The Tertiary Education Quality
Standards Agency (TEQSA) registers
and evaluates the performance of
higher education providers.

16. 8 benchmarks for quality assurance
The Australian Council of Open and Distance Education (ACODE) has designed eight
benchmarks for continuous improvement and quality assurance in technology enhanced
learning.
1. Institution-wide policy and governance for technology enhanced learning.
2. Planning for institution-wide quality improvement
3. Information technology systems, services and support.
4. The application of technology enhanced learning services.
5. Staff professional development for the effective use of technology.
6. Staff support for the use of technology enhanced learning.
7. Student training for the effective use of technology enhanced learning.
8. Student support for the use of technology enhanced learning.

17. References
Seaman, J., Allen, I.E. & Seaman, J. (2018). Grade Increase: Tracking Distance Education in
the United States. Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group.
Selwyn, N. (2014). Digital technology and the contemporary university: Degrees of
digitization, London: Routledge.
Qayyum, A. & Zawacki-Richter, O. (2018). Open and Distance Education in Australia, Europe
and the Americas National Perspectives in a Digital Age. SpringerBriefs in Education.
www.u3aonline.org.au
www.studiesinaustralia.com

18. Thanks!
Contact :
Shuvankar Madhu
The University of Burdwan,
West Bengal.
shuvankarmadhu@gmail.com