This study aims to explore the impact of the fairness of semester-end e-assessment in terms of policy provision, monitoring, and authenticity. The cross-sectional online survey design was employed among 346 students at Nepal Open University (NOU). The results were analyzed by using t-test, analysis of variance, and structural equation modeling.…

This study addresses the applicability of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) within the administrative learner support services at Anadolu University Open Education System, a giga university with more than one million learners in Türkiye. The study reveals the performance differences between a rule-based chatbot and different GenAI-based…

Blended synchronous learning (BSL) has become increasingly prominent in lifelong education due to its flexibility in enabling simultaneous onsite and online participation. However, enhancing the experience and satisfaction of adult learners in this context remains a challenge. This study primarily used structural equation modelling to examine the…

Following the conceptualisation of a third space of internationalisation at a distance (IaD) in this study, we aim to explore how international students at the largest university in Europe, the Open University, might consider their own identities and perspectives. At present over 5000+ international students study at a distance at the Open…

Dropout is a global and complex phenomenon affecting all universities. This study aimed at investigating the intrinsic and extrinsic factors causing dropout at the Open University of Mauritius (OU). Secondary data about 1885 learners were collected for five intakes and three levels of study -- foundation, undergraduate and Master courses. The…

This study aims to explore university students' perception regarding an e-assessment system in terms of preference, assessment management, and the quality assurance process. A cross-sectional online survey was employed among 384 students of Nepal Open University (NOU). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in the research. Findings indicate…

We describe findings from a study based upon a collaborative project carried out online as the end of module assessment activity of a multidisciplinary science module at the UK Open University. Our aim was to determine how well students dealt with working in a team of unfamiliar multidisciplinary scientists and to identify tools and processes that…

This study examined the reasons for high dropout numbers in programs offered through open and distance education (ODE). A mixed method approach was employed to collect data from a purposive sample of instructors and students at the Open University of Sri Lanka. A total of 38 reasons were revealed, of which aligned with existing dropout models as…

The Internet has been massively utilized for educational purposes during the last ten years with many platforms, including e-Learning Services (e-LS). This survey study aimed to report factors affecting the intention to use e-LS in the Indonesian Open University (OU) context. The original technology acceptance model (TAM) was extended, involving…

Purpose: In the last few decades, the growth in management institutions in India has become significant. The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions also have started offering management programmes at various levels. In the ODL scenario, the learning path has been shifting from the traditional Self-Learning Material (SLM)-based model to…

This study examines relationships among several variables within the context of online learning in higher education including self-regulated effort, maintained situational interest, gender differences, and age-related factors. Analyzing data from a diverse Open Cyber University of Korea student sample, the research highlights a positive…

The COVID-19 pandemic forced Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to adopt alternative approaches to the delivery of their learning activities, including examinations. Many HEIs choose Remote Electronic Examinations (REEs) as a one-way solution due to physical presence restriction measures imposed by governments around the world. The present study…

Student persistence in the first year of studies is a crucial concern in online higher education. Recent accelerated growth in online programs due to the COVID pandemic has increased concerns over higher dropout rates, which are often connected to students' time challenges--time poverty, juggling multiple commitments, and fitting studies into busy…

The Open University (OU) has around 1800 students studying in prisons (Students in Secure Environments, 2019) with no internet access. They study offline with no access to the OU library's online resources. This case study explores the student volunteer scheme introduced to help students in prison to indirectly access online library resources. It…

Increasingly, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having an impact on distance-based higher education, where it is revealing multiple ethical issues. However, to date, there has been limited research addressing the perspectives of key stakeholders about these developments. The study presented in this paper sought to address this gap by investigating…