Conference theme
Advancing Open and Distance Learning: Research and Practices

The role of open and distance education institutions has been evolving, and technology is fast opening up new possibilities and means of teaching and learning. Through sharing study results and good practices, this Conference will explore the following sub-themes:

Multi-mode education within open and distance learning institutions
While an increasing number of conventional institutions are developing elearning and flexible study programmes, education modes offered by ODL institutions are becoming diverse. The delivery of study programmes in several educational modes has been posing challenges to institutions.

Nurturing an institutional research culture
Research is one core function of higher education institutions and a major means of informing teaching for educational advancement. The conference will explore ways to nurture an institutional research culture, to encourage teaching innovations, to assist academics to develop their research competence.

Institutional advancement and innovations
In order to bring about advancement in ODL, there should first be advancements in the education provided and the institution offering the education. The conference will examine how to facilitate innovations in educational provision, and for institutional advancement.

Research and innovative ODL practices in the following areas
Studies on a broad range of topic areas are welcome for sharing and exchange. These areas are outlined below:

Planning and management
Institutional planning, change management, and knowledge management in open education institutions

Development of instructional materials
Curriculum design, material development, and instructional design

Use of ICT in course delivery
Learning management systems, technology enhanced teaching, online learning platform design and use, mobile learning, and automatic marking and reporting

Student learning support
Educational environment, administrative and academic support, informal curricula, and learning resource provision

Assessment and evaluation
Student performance assessment, approaches to and means of assessment, use of assessment results in the quality enhancement process, and course and programme evaluation

Development and adoption of OER
Development, use, and limitations of OER; open licenses; repository development and use; OER policies; and metadata systems

Staff development
Professional development approaches, professional development systems and policies, and modes of programme delivery

Collaboration between institutions
Institutional collaboration policies, modes of collaboration, and trends in collaboration

Quality assurance
QA systems, QA implementation agents, and QA policies and procedures

Blended learning
elearning employed in other modes of learning, multiple institutional modes in courses, and learning design for blended courses and programmes

Studies on OCW and MOOCs
The rapidly increasing amount of open courseware (OCW) is bringing about a paradigm shift in the provision of learning material. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are increasing exponentially and having an immense impact on educational institutions. Studies on OCW and MOOCs will offer insights into the way forward for ODL institutions.

Funding and infrastructure for research and development
Research and development are key to the advancement of higher education institutions. An institution’s R&D funding and infrastructure determine to a substantial extent what it can do and how far it can go. The conference will explore how research funding and infrastructure may be effectively obtained, developed and utilized.

Conference language

The Conference will be conducted in English.

Conference format

The Conference will include keynote speeches addressing the main conference theme, parallel paper sessions, workshops, and poster presentations.