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An Overview of China and Its Distance Education History
China Radio and Television University (CRTVU)
China Central Radio and TV University (CCRTVU) is a dedicated distance
education institution, which offers multi-media university courses through
radio, TV, print, audio-visual materials and computer software. It is located
in Beijing under the direct supervision of the State Education Commission
(SEdC). At present this distance education system is made up of the CCRTVU, 44
PTVU's more than 690 branch schools at prefecture and city level, 1,600 study
centres at county level and 13,000 teaching classes. The system is run and
operated at different levels, both central and local, on the basis of overall
planning with the CCRTVU as its centre. TVUs mainly offer two or three year
specialised college degree courses, aiming at training applied professional
personnel at grass-roots level, who develop in an all-round way, morally,
intellectually and physically, to meet the requirements of socialist
construction. In 1996, the TVU system altogether offered 529 specialties
covering 55 disciplines in nine fields. Since its establishment, the CCRTVU has
offered 350 courses in 59 specialties from 22 disciplines covering the six
fields of natural science, engineering, humanities, economics and management,
agriculture and medical science.
Applicants should have completed secondary education and are required to pass
an entrance examination. Applicants should also be of minimum age of 18 years
and should be recommended by their employer.
CCRTVU offers courses in those subjects which are recognised as being of
national interest. It is responsible for the production of the printed course
material, associated radio and television broadcasts, developing and scheduling
national examinations and setting the marking standards. It also trains
teachers, technicians, and administrative staff and conducts research in
higher education through distance learning. PTVUs are responsible for the
production of course materials including radio and television programmes for
those courses that are of interest locally or regionally. They also develop,
schedule and supervise examinations and marking procedures for these courses.
In addition, they enrol students, keep students records, and issue degrees,
diplomas and certificates. Student counselling service is also provided by
PTVUs. Branch schools oversee and administer all aspects of teaching/learning
activities such as scheduling of TV programs, tutorials, laboratory work, tests
and examinations, and field studies as stipulated by CCRTVU and PTVUs. They
also provide a counselling service to students and issue course certificates
for secondary, technical and vocational courses.
"Satellite transmission serves as the kernel of China's distance university
system, linking the central Chinese Radio and Television university in Beijing
to the network of forty-three other open radio and TV schools and universities
throughout the country (Wei and Tongo, 1994.). The Distance Education for Nine
High-Population Countries (DE9) initiative, a collaborative framework between
Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and
Pakistan, was launched following a meeting held by these countries in New
Delhi, India, in December 1993. The Delhi Declaration and Framework for Action
adopted during the nine-country Summit captures the essence and spirit of the
Education for All Conference held three years ago (1990) in Jomtien, Thailand."
Statistical summary: Up to 1996, 2.953 million students had been enrolled on
degree courses with the TVU system, from whom 2.127 million have graduated. The
total number of undergraduates at present is 690 thousand (including 150
thousand 'open entrance students' who are not required to take entrance
examinations).
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Overviews
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