International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (Apr 2009)

Are We There Yet? A Progress Report from Three Turkish University Pioneers in Distance Education and E-Learning

  • Colin Latchem,
  • Nurettin Simsek,
  • Ozlem Cakir Balta,
  • Orhan Torkul,
  • I. Hakkı Cedimoglu,
  • Alpaslan Altunkopru

DOI
https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i2.686
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 2

Abstract

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The international literature provides little in-depth analysis of distance education and e-learning activities, achievements, and challenges in Turkish higher education other than the country’s mega-university, Anadolu. This paper examines the development of, and lessons to be learned from, such undertakings by three pioneers, two regular state universities, Ankara University and Sakarya University, and the private, non-profit Turkish-Kazakhstan Ahmet Yesevi University. Drawing on the collective experience of the authors, the paper reaches some overall conclusions about embarking on distance education and e-learning, which may apply in other Turkish universities and similar economies.

Keywords