Open University. This project dating from the former government has never been implemented. But the present minister of Education appeared determined to set it up, as he announced last Tuesday in Parliament that the ?Commonwealth of Learning is fielding in September 2007 the mission of an expert to assist the ministry in setting up of the Open University?. The whole idea beyond this virtual university is to give the opportunity to more learners to complete higher studies at lower costs than the University of Mauritius.

But beyond this concrete project, distance education as a whole seems to have taken more importance in the past few years. About 8,000 tertiary students out of approximately 25,000 ? which is about 30% ? follow distance education courses. And the government intends to support any projects in that direction because this method is considered one of the ways of democratising education.

Distance education has been used worldwide to train teachers, out-of-school youth and non-working women. Hence, it was a means of opening up access to education. This is the final objective in Mauritius as well. ?So far, distance education has been very useful and worked quite well in the training of teachers who were working at the same time. It should now be extended to more people,? commented a member of the distance learning education department of the Mauritius College of the Air (MCA).

Despite the existence of the University of Mauritius, the University of Technology and several private tertiary institutions, there are still HSC holders who can?t find a seat to complete tertiary education. ?There is not enough room for full time courses in traditional university,? regrets Surendra Bissoondoyal, pedagogue, who worked on the project of Open University under the previous government (see inset). Some pupils do not have the financial means of starting courses in a private institution, for instance. This is why the previous government came forward with its project of Open University. It was almost set up when minister Gokhool reached power but the latter wanted to bring some changes to the project before implementing it.

In fact, some public institutions are already providing distance education courses. With its centre for professional development and lifelong learning (CPDL) as well as its virtual centre for innovative learning technologies ? both under the aegis of the Lifelong Learning Centre ? the UoM has quite an important experience in distance education.

<B>Increase enrolment</B>

When the CPDL was set up in January 1993, the aim was to facilitate the implementation of distance education at the UoM with the objective of improving quality and increasing enrolment at UoM. As one of the objectives of distance learning is to give the opportunity to those already working, the CPDL uses "flexible modes of delivery that range from face to face lectures and seminars, print-based package to online/blended learning". The selection of learners is based not only on formal qualifications but also on experience.

As for the Virtual Centre for innovative learning technologies, it is ?responsible for providing and developing on-line web-based education and tele-learning at the university and throughout the country?.

But the main public institution providing distance education for the moment in Mauritius is the MCA. As it is a non-award institution, it works in collaboration with several institutions both at local and international level. But the MCA is responsible for preparing material for distance learners and provides tutoring for them. The material provided by the MCA is mainly printed-based material ? unlike the VCILD of the university.

There are also a certain number of private institutions providing distance education courses. If the blossoming of such institutions is certainly beneficial for giving access to tertiary education to a greater number, the authorities should be careful ?not to turn tertiary education into a commercial and lucrative product?, as Roukaya Kasenally from the UoM recently pointed out in an article published in l?express. ?If Mauritius is serious about developing a credible and sound knowledge hub, it is imperative that it secures and strengthens its tertiary education setup. This should be driven by the notion of ensuring quality, equity and access.?

What is true for tertiary education is all the more true for distance education. The Tertiary Education Com-mission is the regulatory framework that ensures quality education at tertiary level. As for the Open University, a specific act in Parliament should help regulate this specific sector. Just as a closer collaboration between the public sector ? that already has skills in this sector ? and private sector might be most welcome in the future.

<B>Pauline ETIENNE</B>

<B> Specificities and constraints</B>

Distance learning has a certain number of constraints that learners have to be aware of. Time management, insecurity as far as academic difficulties are concerned, stress, lack of confidence are among them. The MCA provides study skills sessions to learners before they start their course. ?The first thing learners should always keep in mind is the reason why they started the course. This will be their motivation during the whole process,? explains an MCA tutor. But the study skills session also provides future learners with down-to-earth advice like proper reading skills, organisational skills, note-making skills to make sure learners are not left on their own when they start their course. There is no doubt that the number of drop-outs is far more important in distance learning courses than in any other traditional courses. Both the tutor and the learner will thus have to make sure that the motivation is still there and keep up motivation. This is why discipline appears as the leitmotiv in this specific field?

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

<B>Surendra Bissoondoyal, pedagogue

● <B>Why are you in favour of an Open University in Mauritius? </B>

Basically, I believe a third university is important for three main reasons. First, there is not enough room for all students wishing to start full-time tertiary education in traditional universities. It would also provide an alternative to all working people who wish to continue studying. Finally, I believe the Open University would be far cheaper for learners who would be able to work from home. In fact, such a university is expected to affect many more people than any traditional university would.

● <B> There is a rise in the opening of private institutions as well. Wouldn?t that be enough to provide for those wishing to follow tertiary education? </B>

The concept of lifelong education means that people who already have a degree may wish to go more in-depth and continue studies while they are working. An Open University offers another way of achieving lifelong learning, as it is more flexible.

● <B>Isn?t there a greater risk of failure in distance learning than in traditional methods? </B>

I believe there is another option to that of the usual distance learning mode for Mauritius. Distance learning is used in big countries where people have difficulty to move around and can?t travel far everyday. However, for a small country like Mauritius, I think we could adopt a mixed mode with distance learning courses and a system of face-to-face with tutors once a week ? on Saturdays, for instance. It would then give the opportunity to students of having discussions with each other or their teachers.

● <B> What should the Open University or any other distance learning providers do to be successful? </B>

When the landscape for distance learning is extended, we should be very careful. For fields like engineering, for instance, mere theoretical training is not enough and we should make sure that we have proper workshops for practical work. As for the regulatory framework, the TEC and the new bill that should come with the Open University will have to make sure quality is guaranteed.