Abstract:

The Corporate Academic Plan 2006 of the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) clearly states that: “Consistent with the National Plan for Higher Education (NPHE) objectives vis-á-vis distance education and the creation of a dedicated distance education institution, the Department of Education (DoE) has in July 2004 given notice to this institution to phase-out its distance education services.  However, the implications of the CHE-report (2004) on distance education, holds no direct implications for the status quo at the CUT.  In fact it enhances the indirect possibilities for accredited distance short courses (e.g. Service Learning Programs) and web based E-learning (to supplement main stream curriculum) at Learning Centers.  Regional Learning Centers are generally referred to as distance facilities or “branches”.  CUT is also a founder member of the National Association for Distance and Open Learning (NADEOSA) which is closely co-operating with SAIDE, the African Council for Distance Education and the Commonwealth of Open Learning (COL).  The importance of these affiliations is testimony that the CUT is nationally recognized as one of the historically Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) who offered (dual contact) distance education.  Membership of NADEOSA and international invitations to participate in DE- conferences ipso facto qualifies the CUT to be part of the family of DE- institutions both nationally as well as internationally. 

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DeBeer, Karel (2007). Enhancing the contribution of distance education in SA: Implications for the CUT, Free State. Paper presented at South African Association for Research Development in Higher Education (SAARDHE) Conference, Pretoria, 1-4 July 2007.