The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)

This article reviews the impact of electronic learning (eLearning) on universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. eLearning (also known as distance learning) was initially seen as a solution to overcome two major challenges faced by the higher education sector. The first was to ensure there was suf...

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Main Author: Sulaiman Alshathri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The International Education Studies Association 2016-06-01
Series:Educational Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=6138
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author Sulaiman Alshathri
author_facet Sulaiman Alshathri
author_sort Sulaiman Alshathri
collection DOAJ
description This article reviews the impact of electronic learning (eLearning) on universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. eLearning (also known as distance learning) was initially seen as a solution to overcome two major challenges faced by the higher education sector. The first was to ensure there was sufficient provision within the HE sector to match the rapidly growing population of high school graduates; the second was to provide a means for potential students to engage in undergraduate study where travel to university campuses was difficult or impossible. The latter objective was intended to have distinct appeal to women who are not allowed to drive. After much enthusiasm for such provision graduates discovered that distance learning degrees were not being recognised by potential employers or by universities as an entry requirement for postgraduate study. Consequently, the Ministry of Education determined that the newly created electronic university was to lead on all eLearning which was to be a mix of face to face and distance learning – blended learning. The challenges facing SEU for effective implementation of this provision are examined here.
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series Educational Futures
spelling doaj-art-d24a6f2171ca40b3bdb0d94cc46c77832025-08-20T03:29:18ZengThe International Education Studies AssociationEducational Futures1758-21992016-06-01738698The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)Sulaiman Alshathri0London Centre for Leadership in Learning, UCL Institute of EducationThis article reviews the impact of electronic learning (eLearning) on universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. eLearning (also known as distance learning) was initially seen as a solution to overcome two major challenges faced by the higher education sector. The first was to ensure there was sufficient provision within the HE sector to match the rapidly growing population of high school graduates; the second was to provide a means for potential students to engage in undergraduate study where travel to university campuses was difficult or impossible. The latter objective was intended to have distinct appeal to women who are not allowed to drive. After much enthusiasm for such provision graduates discovered that distance learning degrees were not being recognised by potential employers or by universities as an entry requirement for postgraduate study. Consequently, the Ministry of Education determined that the newly created electronic university was to lead on all eLearning which was to be a mix of face to face and distance learning – blended learning. The challenges facing SEU for effective implementation of this provision are examined here.https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=6138blended learningdistance learning
spellingShingle Sulaiman Alshathri
The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
Educational Futures
blended learning
distance learning
title The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
title_full The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
title_fullStr The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
title_full_unstemmed The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
title_short The challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the Arab world (Saudi Electronic University)
title_sort challenges of developing blended learning in the first electronic university in the arab world saudi electronic university
topic blended learning
distance learning
url https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=6138
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