NEW DIRECTIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR ODL: BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS APPROACH

European Scientific Journal June 2014 /SPECIAL/ edition vol.1 ISSN: 1857 - 7881 (Print) e NEW DIRECTIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR ODL: BUILDING A COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS APPROACH 0 Mohammad Rishad Faridi, Dr. Asst. Professor, Dept. of Marketing, Shaju Nalkara Ouseph, Dr. Asst. Professor, ELL Programme ,College of Business Administration, AlKharj Arab Open University, Salman bin Abdulaziz University , KSA Riyadh, KSA Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has been undergoing incremental change over the past decade with the rapid flow of globalization and internationalization. At the surface level, the ODL platform seems to be volatile as greater challenges lie behind the pillars of open learning that ensures quality, flexibility and sustainability to its applicants. At the same time, it has become a promising alternative to the traditional classroom learning, helping university to move toward a vision of lifelong and on-demand learning. This paper aims at building a collaborative business model that can be adapted in an ODL setting keeping in mind the institution, students and stakeholders. It intends to identify effective management and efficient leadership who will be flagship in taking Open University into new heights. The objective is obvious as to make an analysis of anticipated variables of change, challenges, hindrances, facilitation, environment, and technology at ODL for the next decade. Accordingly, strategies are to be framed and effective policies are to be drawn through collaborative approach of leader and management-an heuristic thought process. It will also delineate the new trends in education management with special reference to ODL. This study is futuristic but the approach is empirical, with a vision of bringing competitive edge to education for all. As for methodology, the researchers sought opinions of various stakeholders in education and analyzed the priorities to be set in this area. The paradigm shift is from tutor to content and to learner where learning is taking place in a wider perspective with openness to creativity, novelty of ideas, active participation of the learner and stakeholder. ODL has to create a learning environment, coping with the challenges of technological developments involving digitalization and processing of information, emergence of new wave of economies, demographics and ageing population, changes in society and family structures. This necessitates fostering strong rapport between facilitator and learner with a robust support and encouragement of authentic/open leadership. Leadership; Collaborative; Stakeholder; Employability Skills - Introduction Twenty first century witnessed a huge leap in industrial and technological developments. Sweeping changes took place in all facets of human life, for example, the Green Revolution in 1970s transformed agriculture leading to self-sufficiency in food. In 1980s, the White Revolution multiplied production of milk. Information Technology (IT) revolution in 1990s transformed the very idea of employment and accelerated globalization and internationalization. Finally, in 2000, saw a revolution in Higher Education, opening the platform of knowledge to all including the disadvantaged and those denied access to traditional education. Many words and terms that are used today have never been used by previous generations. E-learning, distance learning, open learning and blended learning are some of the terms which are commonly used in literature and business these days. With the rapid development of multimedia technology, open and distance learning (ODL) has become a new kind of teaching model and people can teach and learn anytime and anywhere. Distance education is defined by the association for educational communication and technology according to Schlosser & Simonson (2006) Institution-based, formal education where the learning group is separated, and where interactive telecommunication systems are used to connect learners, resources and instructors Distance can be broadly categorized into two major components: they are distance teaching and distance learning. As per Simonson (2009) Distance teaching is the efforts of the educational institution to design develop and deliver instructional experiences to the distant student so that learning may occur. Education and distance education is comprised of teaching and learning. Globalization of Education The academic discourse on globalization generally focuses on its economic and political effects ignoring the shifts and changes it has produced in the underlying values and perspectives on the people affected. A new tidal wave of change in the form of globalization has become an inescapable reality of life. While the ripple effects of globalization are felt in almost all spheres of life, they are most palpable among the college-going youth or the netizen generation. In ODL too, it has brought far-reaching demands to both students as well as stake holders. It opened up new vistas of teaching and learning, transforming the traditional notion of education. World is flat a new dimension of education is the integration of various variables crossing beyond the geographical boundaries as ODL compete to gain competitive advantage. Globalization means inviting more complexities, challenges, cultural differences, diversity etc. As per Porter (2008) Globalization has been described as the combined phenomena whereby people are more globally connected than ever before through international travel and international communication, where information and financial capital are transmitted almost instantaneously around the globe, and where goods and services produced in one part of the world are ubiquitously available. Porter (2008) goes on to say: Globalization describes the political, economic, and cultural atmosphere of today. While some people think of globalization as primarily a synonym for global business, it is much more than that. The same forces that allow businesses to operate as if national borders did not exist also allow social activists, labor organizers, journalists, academics, and many others to work on a global stage. Globalization has also brought concurrent changes in institutional structures like shift from annual to semester systems, internal and external student mobility, immigration and migration patterns and functions tending towards standardization. The corporatization of education whereby it is now treated as a business venture is becoming the norm today. Leadership and Stakeholders in ODL No matter how flat the world becomes, ODL should adopt to this change in an organic way. Coping with the change needs very effective leadership in education who can take the education into new heights. Both DAgostino (2000) and Teddlie and Stringfield (1993), for example, report that leadership of the principal was the key factor in helping create a strong shared mission and vision in the school, which in turn was related to teacher effectiveness. The (...truncated)