Open University and Distant Education in Applied Mathematics, a Third World Perspective.
V. Masanja (University of Dar es Salaam) and M. Heilio (Lappeenranta University of Technology)
The 1990s saw great pressure to expand students’ enrolment and improve education delivery with dwindling resources at most Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Higher Learning Institutions (HEIs). The HEIs saw the solutions to this dilemma in the utilization of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). Many initiatives are undertaken in many SSA HEIs to foster education and training systems through the effective and relevant use of ICTs and the Internet for learning (eLearning). Projects have been funded to explore eLearning issues such as new learning environments, virtual models of education and training, teachers’ training to use ICT in education and the development of eContent. This presentation explores the extent to which such initiatives have contributed to the integration of ICT enhanced tools and services in the education and training of remote courses in Applied Mathematics and discusses the potential areas of collaboration.
Access to MS level courses is a possibility to develop applied mathematics curricula and foster international collaboration in educational development.