Page 154 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

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

Further, as in any conventional science- DELIVERY SYSTEM AND
based programs other activities such as TECHNOLOGY USE
projects, field work, field visits, clinicals, As an institution that practices open and
industrial placements and other appropriate distance learning methodology, the OUSL
academic activities are part of the program heavily depends on printed and electronic
and are compulsory. However, as many lesson materials, augmented using modern
of the students are employed, they may technologies. The university has a dedicated
be able to obtain exemptions to some centre for educational technology named
of these components if they have the Centre for Educational Technology and
relevant experience. The science-based Media (CETMe), which through the University
programs offered by the university have Course Development Committee (UCDC) sets
been accredited by the relevant professional the standards and monitors the development
organizations and are very well accepted and of the self-instructional printed learning
recognized by the employers. In fact, over materials of the university. The Centre also
the last few years the OUSL graduates have takes the responsibility of training all the
bagged many first prizes for projects and permanent and contract staff in developing
internships competing with the graduates of self-instructional learning materials.
the conventional universities.
The University started experimenting
with the development of online learning
in the year 2003 and currently has all the
required frameworks and standards to
develop online courses. In this context,
CETMe is currently playing a unique role in
transforming the OUSL teaching materials

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)