Page 342 - Universitas Terbuka Center of Excellence In Asia 2010 and The World 2020 (A Journey Towards a Leading Open and Distance Education Institution 1984-2008)

can be easily achieved if the institutions use the same language of
instruction. However, distance education institutions in general operate as

national institutions and each uses national language as language of
instruction.

The current trend shows that more distance education institutions use an

international language of instruction , namely English , and act as service
providers of global distance education, reaching students living in any part of

the world. Until recently, English has been the dominant international
language, used for formal international communication in government,

business , computer, academic communication and language of instruction in
.
world-class higher education institutions. World-class universities, whether

they employ face-to-face or distance learning mode , use English as a
language of instruction in order to meet the needs of their international

students. International higher education institutions which can reach
international clients cannot avoid using English as a language of instruction .

English competence of UT's human resources should be continually improved
if it really wants to realize its mission of becoming one of world-class centre

of excellence .

The possibility of recognition of prog rams and subject is bigger for post-
graduate level than graduate level. Someone holding a first degree from a

particular university can continue to post-graduate program in a university in
another country even though the language of instruction is different, as long

as he meets the selection criteria set by the university. Credit transfer and
recognition of programs and subjects should be easy as long as they meet

minimal selection criteria . The challenge for distance education institutions is
to work together to facilitate the process of credit transfer and recognition of

title , programs and subjects. Language of instruction is one of the main

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