Page 14 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

xii OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATON IN ASIA
Good Practices from AAOU Members

Thailand - STOU serving as a supplement. However, STOU
The Foundation for DE by Satellite was has recently introduced computer-based
founded in 1995 with the blessing of His DE in addition to printed-based materials,
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Maha including E-learning, M-learning, Video on
Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX). STOU as Demand, Video Conferencing, Computer
the first OU in Thailand is designed to provide Conferencing, Computer-Based Instructions,
lifelong learning using DE system to respond Web-Based Instruction, and Face-to-Face
to individual and societal needs. STOU’s Interaction. In order to increase learning
University Development Plan of 2018–2037 options for students, STOU developed STOU-
focuses on adjusting the university to cope MOOC in collaboration with the Thai Cyber
with more challenging external contexts, University (TCU) and the Office of the Higher
to create the new and stronger identity Education Commission (OHEC). MOOCs are
of the university, to focus on provision of seen to be more suited to students’ demands
up-to-date lifelong education including in the digital age.
formal education, non-formal education,
and informal education, and to respond China - OUC
to the needs for learning and skills of the China has a longstanding history of
future world. Textbooks, workbooks, and developing DE, which has allowed it to
study guides serve as the primary learning become the largest provider of DE in Asia, if
media, with additional multimedia programs not the entire world. Following the reform

Introduction