Shannon Johnson

OMDE 601 Section 9020

June 27, 2015

Essay #2

RUNNING HEAD: Developed vs. Developing: Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa

Developed vs. Developing:

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa (UNISA)

Shannon M. Johnson

University of Maryland University College

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 2

Developed vs. Developing: Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South

Africa

Two distance education institutions on two continents, one from a developed nation and

one from a developing nation. Both universities have moved from correspondence education to

online learning. Both have made it their mission to offer high-quality, distance education

courses to students worldwide. This essay will compare and contrast Penn States World

Campus and the University of South Africa. Specifically, their histories and why they have

come into existence, what populations they each serve and how they are organized to fulfill their

missions, what methods of teaching and learning they use, and the technologies each use to

achieve distance learning success.

History and Reason for Existence

The Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1855, starting out as one of the first

agriculture science colleges (Our history, 2015). In an effort to provide agriculture education to

farmers across Pennsylvania, Penn State began offering correspondence courses in 1892 (Online

Education, 2015), moving the institution from a single-mode institution to that of a mixed-mode

university (Guri-Rosenblit, 2009).

With many years experience educating adults at a distance, in 1998, Penn State moved

into the online learning aspect of distance education and widened the universities reach to an

audience worldwide. The World Campus, Penn States virtual campus, launched its pilot

semester in the spring of 1998 and had a total enrollment of 41 students, in three programs

(Hons, 2002).

Commented [DJO1]: A good introduction short, concise and clear to the reader so one knows exactly where you are

going.

Commented [DJO2]: PSU is Pennsylvanias land grant university established by the Morrill Act of 1862.

Commented [DJO3]: You might note that Penn State in the 60s 90s also used audio, video and other technologies as their DE mission evolved.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 3

The University of South Africa was founded, shortly after Penn State, in 1873 as the

University of the Cape of Good Hope. The university changed its name to the University of

South Africa, also known as UNISA, in 1918. UNISA did not begin to offer correspondence

courses until 1946, when it became the first university to teach exclusively at a distance (UNISA

annual report 2013, 2013,).

While UNISA did not start offering courses at a distance as early as Penn State, both

institutions followed a similar path to becoming leaders in distance education.

Mission and Population Served

Penn States World Campus now serves students from across the United States, in more

than 60 countries and across seven continents. The World Campus website states:

Our mission is making sure you have access to a quality academic experience, even if

you have a job and family obligations to fulfill. If you cant come to one of our brick-

and-mortar campuses, well bring our campus to you (About Us, 2015).

UNISAs student population is as varied as those that attend World Campus, with

students ranging from high-income to poverty stricken (Ryan, 2008,). The university has

students enrolled from over 130 countries. The universitys mission is to provide all people

regardless of race, colour or creed with access to higher education (Celebrating 140 years in

2013, 2013).

Approximately 35,000 students earn diplomas and degrees from UNISA each year with

the majority being undergraduate students. Only 9% of enrollments are outside of South Africa

(Student success, 2015). Students come from a wide range of geographical backgrounds from

rural to urban areas (Mbatha, 2014).

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Commented [DJO4]: Unless this is s a direct quote, you do not include page number.

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Commented [DJO5]: Direct quote do you have a page number?

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Commented [DJO6]: At least in 2015, it is usually written UNISA.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 4

While Penn State focuses on bringing the campus to their learners doors because they

realize that their students are working adults with familial obligations, UNISAs focus is to

provide education for all no matter their status in life.

Institutional Values

Penn States World Campus falls within the Outreach and Online Education segment of

Penn State University. The website lists five values that the division goes by: excellence

focusing efforts on areas of strength and opportunity; integrity holding to the highest ethical

standards; accountability taking ownership of work, actions, and the organization; innovation

embracing creativity and disciplined risk-taking; and inclusiveness creation of an inviting

environment for all people (Mission and vision, 2015).

UNISA wishes to serve every country on the African continent and overcome language

and cultural barriers (About UNISA, 2015). Unisa specifies the universitys values as social

justice and fairness and excellence with integrity (UNISA annual report 2013, 2013, p.4)

In their value statements both universities discuss opportunities for everyone and holding

the univeristies to high ethical standards, two great guiding principles.

Organization/Systems of Operation

The governance of both institutions follows a similar process of having a council to make

major decisions for the universities.

World Campus is guided by a board of trustees who have responsibilities in the university

budget, goals, policies and procedures. The President is responsible for the day to day of the

university (Leadership and mission, 2015).

Deleted: nisa

Commented [DJO7]: This reads like it is direct text if yes it must be put in quotation marks with a page number if

available.

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Commented [DJO8]: Good

Commented [DJO9]: Generally yes, but the Board of Trustees govern Penn State University. The World Campus

may have an advisory board that must generally meet the

basic requirements that flow down through official channels

and reporting structures from the Board.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 5

UNISA is guided by a corporate governance council that oversees the operations of the

university. The council attempts to lead the university using an ethical foundation, they are

responsible for implementing plans, strategies, policies and procedures. They are also

responsible for information technology decisions (About UNISA, 2015).

Model of Teaching and Learning

The World Campus website indicates that the curriculum is career-focused, the courses

are taught by faculty trained to teach online and who are field experts, and that the courses are

designed with technology to enhance the curriculum (Why Penn State World Campus, 2015).

World Campus uses a centralized learning platform with a single access sign on. All courses

share the same four characteristics: fully online, equal to campus courses, they are interactive

and they are adult learner-centric (How it works (faqs), 2015).

On their university website, UNISA discusses their mission to provide lifelong learning, a

student-centered approach to teaching and their desire to use innovation and creativity. The

university aims to remove access barriers for their students, provide learner support, and try to

promote flexible learning for their students (About UNISA, 2015)

Technologies Used

Penn States World Campus currently uses ANGEL as their learning management

system. ANGEL allowed users to view course content, upload assignments, take quizzes, and

view grades. However, since the purchase of ANGEL by Blackboard, Penn State was informed

in 2014 of an end-of-life date, and the school is currently exploring the possibility of replacing

ANGEL with Canvas (Stuck, 2015).

Deleted: Unisa

Commented [DJO10]: And likely funding and budgeting. These are typical board functions boards dont normally get in to issues about what degrees are delivered by distance

education unless they are new or significantly modified

existing programs that require board approval. Normally,

however, the Provost for Academic Vice President drives

these and the boards approval is basically a procedural and policy formality.

Commented [DJO11]: Nice

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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 6

The new Canvas system, if chosen, will offer students options for mobile learning and it

offers more opportunities for collaboration within the LMS that the ANGEL system did not

(Stuck, 2015).

While UNISA has Africas largest academic library, it does not appear that they have an

online library as World Campus does.

UNISA uses several different technologies to support their distance education learners.

E-tutorials are included in many modules. The university uses myUnisa as their student portal

and they also incorporate Web 2.0 tools such as video conferencing, e-mail, and Skype in their

curriculums (Student services and support, 2013).

Conclusion

The University of South Africa and Penn States World Campus are about as

geographically separated as the student populations they serve. While there are a few similarities

in the two universities there are more differences, some more pronounced than others.

Both universities are leaders in distance education and have been educating adult learners

since the 1800s. World Campus is an online campus that compliments Penn States other brick-

and-mortar campuses while UNISA is a distance learning only university.

Penn States focus is bringing education to adult learners with responsibilities and

UNISA wants to ensure no matter a persons status that education can be earned by all. Both

universities are organized with a council that governs the major decisions for the universities.

When it comes to teaching and learning Penn State offers learners a career-focused

curriculum while UNISA takes a student-centered approach to teaching and learning.

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Commented [DJO12]: I think you would find PSU also is student centered, their aims are just more focused on serving

returning adult learners and preparing them for work.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 7

The largest difference, that causes you to remember that these two institutions are from

two different stages of developed comes when you look at the technologies used. World Campus

is currently looking at upgrading their learning management system to integrate more

opportunities for collaboration and mobile learning. Unisa is still using modules and they do not

offer an online academic library. The inability for students to access a large reference library of

materials really shows how far apart the universities really are.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 8

References

About UNISA. (2015). Retrieved from UNISA:

http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=20572

About us . (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/about-us

Celebrating 140 years in 2013. (2013). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from UNISA University of

South Africa: http://www.unisa.ac.za/140/index.php/history/

Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2009). Diverse models of distance teaching universities. Encyclopedia of

Distance Learning(2), 727-733. Retrieved from

http://www.box.com/s/51sbixtccnccfxboh1uk

Hons, C. (2002). Big ten school in cyberspace. T H E Journal, 29(6), 27. Retrieved from

https://search.ebscohost.com [AN 6048902]

How it works (faqs) [Web page]. (2015). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from Penn State World

Campus: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/how-online-learning-works/how-it-works-

faqs

Leadership and mission. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-

state/leadership-and-mission

Mbatha, B. (2014). Global transition in higher education: From the traditional model of learning

to a new socially mediated model. International Review of Research in Open and

Distance Learning, 15(3), 257 - 274. Retrieved from

http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1033097

Commented [DJO13]: Very good reference list and adherence to APA. Good work.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 9

Mission and vision. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State:

http://www.outreach.psu.edu/about/vision-mission/

Online education. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.outreach.psu.edu/online-

learning/

Our history. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/our-

history

Ryan, P. (2008). A small experiment in online learning. South African Journal of Higher

Education, 22(4), 877-888. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com [AN 36812748]

Stuck, E. (2015, April 21). IST students see strong potential for Canvas to become Penn State's

next LMS. Retrieved from Penn State News:

http://news.psu.edu/story/353860/2015/04/21/impact/ist-students-see-strong-potential-

canvas-become-penn-state%E2%80%99s-next-lms

Student services and support. (2013). Retrieved from UNISA:

http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=24020

Student success. (2015). Retrieved from UNISA:

http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=15928

UNISA annual report 2013 [PDF document]. (2013). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from UNISA

University of South Africa:

http://www.unisa.ac.za/happening/docs/1217_UNISA_AnnualReport_2013_final.pdf

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 10

Why Penn State World Campus [Web page]. (2015). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from Penn State

World Campus: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/about-us/why-penn-state-world-

campus

Shannon,

Overall, your paper is well written, well organized and covers the main elements in

the assignment. The one topical area you did not address was [Make sure to address how

DE practice is influenced by context for each of the organizations.] Penn State is a well-

funded, reputable American university that can operate without many of the constraints

that face African nations. UNISA has evolved during one of the most challenged social

issues in African history Apartheid. In practice this means that for decades UNISA

focused on educating the white population and was managed and led primarily by

Afrikaners not African black leaders that have managed UNISA since 1990. This context

raises many questions and we would have liked to have seen you discuss these in your

paper. It is fair to say that UNISA faces significantly more barriers to delivering distance

education than Penn State. We would have liked to have seen you address some of these

differences in more detail.

A second issue is around what constitutes an open university? In the U.S. the

concept of an open university is seldom used given we have over 4,150 colleges and

universities most of which provide some level of DE in 2015. The majority of these are

accessible to the majority of population. Penn States World Campus is a fine choice no

problem here but many would argue it is not an open university or even an open arm of

PSU. This raises an interesting question: Can a dual mode university truly be an open

university? Beyond this discussion but something to think about.

Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 11

Overall, your paper adhered to APA and your reference list is very good. In a few

places, you need to review the requirements of direct quotes not a direct quote you do not

include the page number. If it is a direct quote you must enclose in quotation marks and

include the page numbers.

Grade Breakdown

Content: 85

References: 90

Writing: 88

APA 90

Overall Grade: 88