Page 343 - Universitas Terbuka Center of Excellence In Asia 2010 and The World 2020 (A Journey Towards a Leading Open and Distance Education Institution 1984-2008)

constraints to grab that opportunity. Some efforts have been made by UT

through quality comparison, learning from best practices among distance
education institutions, and carrying out necessary improvement.

8. Development of joint programs and subjects. Distance education institutions

should explore the possibility of developing joint programs and subjects. This
opportunity is more pragmatic to be done at post-graduate level. This kind of

cooperation is more flexible in making use the joint subjects . For example ,
subject can be developed together, and related institutions can use them or

modify them according to the needs of students , or translate them in the
language of instruction used in the country. Partner institutions can also be

flexible in developing study guides , or set system of assessment for the
subject. But still , language of instruction and academic and administrative

communication remain the main constraint in this effort.

9. Staff exchange. Staff exchange is an important and constructive step for
distance education institutions to cooperate and share experience and best
practices. Staff exchange can be done bilaterally between institutions and

multilaterally between similar institutions with various institutions, agencies,

organizations or multilateral associations having the same interests in
distance higher education . Staff exchange can be followed up by a number of
forms , such as research cooperation , development of joint distance education

methods, cooperation in public services , development of programs and

subjects, joint innovation , joint utility of resources , and other forms which are
constructive to the institutions concerned . UT needs to more active in
sending and receiving staff exchange with similar institutions, which will be

constructive to future development of the institution and professional
competence of the staff concerned . Informal network between staff of

institutions should be necessarily developed, because many things can be

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