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Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory pp 1–6Cite as

Open Universities

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Synonyms

Distance education; Distance teaching universities; E-learning; Online learning; Online universities; Open and distance learning

Introduction

Open universities is a collective term that encompasses higher education institutions that only operate a distance education model (referred to as using a single mode) rather than only, or also using, a traditional campus-based education model (institutions that use both are known as dual mode rather than single mode). They use communication technologies and large-scale operations and aim to offer greater flexibility and/or openness to studying at tertiary level to largely mature adults. Not all open universities carry open in their title and many universities offer distance teaching alongside campus-based teaching. Most students of open universities study part time compared to most campus-based students studying full time. Open universities are also driven by social idealism, economic pragmatism, and technological innovation and have...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

    Andy Lane

Authors
  1. Andy Lane
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Correspondence to Andy Lane .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Michael Peters

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© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Lane, A. (2015). Open Universities. In: Peters, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Educational Philosophy and Theory. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-532-7_216-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-532-7_216-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-532-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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