Towards a strategy for supporting distance-learning students through networked access to information: issues and challenges in preparing to support the Doctorate in Education

Abstract

This paper seeks to address the issues of supporting the Open University's postgraduate students through networked access to information. The paper positions the Open University, since it is at this point still a unique facility in terms of size and standing within the UK higher education system, in order to establish the need for quality Information Services, and for a scaleable model which can be applied to other postgraduate courses. The paper describes the support planned for the forthcoming Doctorate in Education, the importance of a collaborative approach to the delivery of distance education, and the issues surrounding the evolving strategy for networked information provision.