Distance Learning Programmes: A Case Distance Learning Programmes: A Case Study about Yarmouk andStudy about Yarmouk and SunderlandSunderland

Universities joint MSc ProgrammesUniversities joint MSc Programmes Mohammad HamdanMohammad Hamdan

Chair of Computer Science Dept./Chair of Computer Science Dept./Joint MSc Programmes CoordinatorJoint MSc Programmes Coordinator

Faculty of ITFaculty of ITYarmouk UniversityYarmouk University

JordanJordan

E-mail hamdan@yu.edu.joE-mail hamdan@yu.edu.jo

AgendaAgenda

Why Distance Learning ProgrammesWhy Distance Learning Programmes

Agreement StructureAgreement Structure

The First YearThe First Year

The Second YearThe Second Year

Changes to the AgreementChanges to the Agreement

The Third YearThe Third Year

The Fourth YearThe Fourth Year

RecommendationsRecommendations

Why Distance ProgrammesWhy Distance Programmes

Investment: for both universities.Investment: for both universities.

Programmes variety: the students have Programmes variety: the students have more degrees to choose from.more degrees to choose from.

Employment issues: students would like to Employment issues: students would like to have more employment opportunities.have more employment opportunities.

Students needs: a degree from a western Students needs: a degree from a western university but without leaving current job.university but without leaving current job.

More flexible programmes than local ones. More flexible programmes than local ones.

Agreement StructureAgreement Structure

Sunderland duties:Sunderland duties:– Supply teaching materialSupply teaching material– Training Yarmouk staffTraining Yarmouk staff– Monitoring the programme through frequent visitsMonitoring the programme through frequent visits– Issuing assignments and Issuing assignments and – Assessing assignments.Assessing assignments.

Yarmouk duties:Yarmouk duties:– Delivering lectures to studentsDelivering lectures to students– Handing out assignmentsHanding out assignments– Receiving students work and conducting exams Receiving students work and conducting exams – Facilitating communication between students problems and Sunderland andFacilitating communication between students problems and Sunderland and– Collecting feesCollecting fees

FeesFees: Sunderland 57.5% and Yarmouk 42.5%. All local costs are paid by Yarmouk.: Sunderland 57.5% and Yarmouk 42.5%. All local costs are paid by Yarmouk.

MSc programsMSc programs

MSc Information Technology MSc Information Technology ManagementManagement

MSc E-CommerceMSc E-Commerce

MSc Computer–based Information MSc Computer–based Information SystemsSystems

MSc E-Commerce ApplicationsMSc E-Commerce Applications

Each MSc programme is divided Each MSc programme is divided into three stagesinto three stages

The The certificate stagecertificate stage that has a total of four modules that has a total of four modules where every two modules are taken over a period of 15 where every two modules are taken over a period of 15 weeks. This would give us a total of 30 weeks. weeks. This would give us a total of 30 weeks. The The diploma stagediploma stage is similar to the certificate stage but is similar to the certificate stage but its modules are more advanced. its modules are more advanced. The The project stageproject stage is the final stage where the student is is the final stage where the student is expected to write a high quality MSc thesis and defend expected to write a high quality MSc thesis and defend his work. Total length is 30 weeks and includes 3 weeks his work. Total length is 30 weeks and includes 3 weeks of lectures about how to select a topic and prepare the of lectures about how to select a topic and prepare the terms of reference.terms of reference.

The First YearThe First Year

October 2002.October 2002.

Old students: 5 ITM studentsOld students: 5 ITM students

AdvertisingAdvertising

Only 3 students applied for ITM Only 3 students applied for ITM programme that should have started programme that should have started February 2003.February 2003.

Why lack of students?Why lack of students?

The Second YearThe Second Year

October 2003.October 2003.16 ITM16 ITM10 CBIS10 CBISBy end of Stage I and entering Stage 2 By end of Stage I and entering Stage 2 only 5 ITM and 5 CBISonly 5 ITM and 5 CBISWhy?Why?Few students found the program not as Few students found the program not as easy it would be and weak writing skills of easy it would be and weak writing skills of students.students.

Changes to the AgreementChanges to the Agreement

Yarmouk is responsible completely for Yarmouk is responsible completely for stage I of both ITM and CBIS stage I of both ITM and CBIS programmes. programmes. – Issuing assignments and the marking process Issuing assignments and the marking process

is done completely by Yarmouk staff.is done completely by Yarmouk staff.

This means reducing the fees from 10050 This means reducing the fees from 10050 to 8150 USD for the whole programme.to 8150 USD for the whole programme.

Sunderland gets no fees for stage I. Sunderland gets no fees for stage I.

The Third YearThe Third Year

October 2004October 2004

20 ITM20 ITM

10 CBIS10 CBIS

Mid of stage 2: 16 ITM and 9 CBISMid of stage 2: 16 ITM and 9 CBIS

Why students didn’t drop from program? Why students didn’t drop from program?

All marking for stage I is handled by All marking for stage I is handled by Yarmouk university staff and nearly all Yarmouk university staff and nearly all students passed. students passed.

The Fourth YearThe Fourth Year

31applications for ITM31applications for ITM

4 applications for CBIS4 applications for CBIS

Only ITM will start on the 8Only ITM will start on the 8thth of October of October 2005.2005.

CBIS will be postponed till February 2006 CBIS will be postponed till February 2006 on the hope that more students will join. on the hope that more students will join. Otherwise terminate CBIS.Otherwise terminate CBIS.

RecommendationsRecommendations

Always advertise early and in a professional fashion,Always advertise early and in a professional fashion,Try to give a good answer to student's questions as Try to give a good answer to student's questions as much as you can in order to have their confidence in much as you can in order to have their confidence in you. For example, a CBIS student will ask whether he you. For example, a CBIS student will ask whether he can work as a lecturer or not. A good answer is that your can work as a lecturer or not. A good answer is that your chances are much better if you do work in Industry.chances are much better if you do work in Industry.Try to minimize the costs in order to reduce the fees if Try to minimize the costs in order to reduce the fees if possible,possible,Select your best local lecturers and train them if Select your best local lecturers and train them if necessary andnecessary andTry to have regular meetings with students and do not Try to have regular meetings with students and do not rely on e-mail all the time as the students prefer to take rely on e-mail all the time as the students prefer to take the information directly from the administration. the information directly from the administration.