What are the issues to consider in setting up a distance education institution?

Countries and institutions set up distance education systems for a range of reasons. Some of the efforts are misguided, prompted by a desire to keep up with trends or to be seen using new technology. But others are rational attempts by ministries of education to improve the quality of teachers through in-service training, open opportunities for higher or even secondary education to deprived populations, and make more efficient use of the nation's human and other resources.

The most critical decision in planning distance education at the national or state level is whether to set up a single-mode, independent institution or to have existing institutions provide distance education in a dual-mode structure. In the second case a decision must then be made about whether to bring institutions into consortia using funding and other strategies or to allow uncontrolled competition.

An institution faces a similar decision: Should it become a mixed-mode institution by adding distance education to the responsibilities of existing department heads, or a dual-mode institution by setting up an independent department for distance education?

Regardless of the approach chosen, mechanisms should be set up for planning the new system's staffing, funding, course design and delivery, and learner support arrangements. In mixed-mode institutions they often are not.