Welcome to the Sub-Saharan African Open and Distance Learning Knowledge Base

UNESCO has completed the first phase of developing a consolidated information system and database on ODL in sub-Saharan Africa. The broader purpose of this ‘knowledge base’ is to offer an integrated knowledge guide to distance education and open learning. The knowledge base includes selected readings, reports of good practice, and other information tools, targeted to help public and private organizations, and individuals using distance education as a means of human development in the education sector, beginning with higher education. Developing countries, in particular, have not benefited from the growth of online resources on distance education nor from the systematization of knowledge from other developed and developing counties on distance education.

This site is implemented as a partnership venture between the UNESCO Harare Cluster office, the World Bank, and the Global Distance Education Network (GDENet), a knowledge guide to distance education designed to help clients of the World Bank and others interested in using distance education for human development. The Network consists of a core site located at the World Bank and regional sites in all parts of the world. This is the regional site for Southern Africa.

Open and Distance Learning Systems

This domain explores the theory and conceptualisation of open and distance learning, distance learning systems, and policy and legislation of distance learning.
Learner Support and Assessment

Learning at a distance is similar in many ways to learning in a classroom environment, but there are some significant differences.
Management and Administration

This domain provides information about the different ways in which distance education is organized and administered at an institutional level. Different procedures may be appropriate in different types of organization.
Programme and Course Development and Management

Programmes consist of a set or groupings of courses, and planning at this level is very important.
Use of Media and Technology in Education

The communications between learners and instructors in distance education must be provided by technologies. There is a wide variety available.