Distance Learning Programmes: A Case Study about Yarmouk and Sunderland Universities joint MSc Programmes Mohammad Hamdan Chair of Computer Science Dept./ Joint MSc Programmes Coordinator Faculty of IT Yarmouk University Jordan

Agenda Why Distance Learning Programmes Agreement Structure The First Year The Second Year Changes to the Agreement The Third Year The Fourth Year Recommendations

Why Distance Programmes Investment: for both universities. Programmes variety: the students have more degrees to choose from. Employment issues: students would like to have more employment opportunities. Students needs: a degree from a western university but without leaving current job. More flexible programmes than local ones.

Agreement Structure Sunderland duties: –Supply teaching material –Training Yarmouk staff –Monitoring the programme through frequent visits –Issuing assignments and –Assessing assignments. Yarmouk duties: –Delivering lectures to students –Handing out assignments –Receiving students work and conducting exams –Facilitating communication between students problems and Sunderland and –Collecting fees Fees : Sunderland 57.5% and Yarmouk 42.5%. All local costs are paid by Yarmouk.

MSc programs MSc Information Technology Management MSc E-Commerce MSc Computer–based Information Systems MSc E-Commerce Applications

Each MSc programme is divided into three stages The certificate stage that has a total of four modules where every two modules are taken over a period of 15 weeks. This would give us a total of 30 weeks. The diploma stage is similar to the certificate stage but its modules are more advanced. The project stage is the final stage where the student is expected to write a high quality MSc thesis and defend his work. Total length is 30 weeks and includes 3 weeks of lectures about how to select a topic and prepare the terms of reference.

The First Year October Old students: 5 ITM students Advertising Only 3 students applied for ITM programme that should have started February Why lack of students?

The Second Year October ITM 10 CBIS By end of Stage I and entering Stage 2 only 5 ITM and 5 CBIS Why? Few students found the program not as easy it would be and weak writing skills of students.

Changes to the Agreement Yarmouk is responsible completely for stage I of both ITM and CBIS programmes. –Issuing assignments and the marking process is done completely by Yarmouk staff. This means reducing the fees from to 8150 USD for the whole programme. Sunderland gets no fees for stage I.

The Third Year October ITM 10 CBIS Mid of stage 2: 16 ITM and 9 CBIS Why students didn’t drop from program? All marking for stage I is handled by Yarmouk university staff and nearly all students passed.

The Fourth Year 31applications for ITM 4 applications for CBIS Only ITM will start on the 8 th of October CBIS will be postponed till February 2006 on the hope that more students will join. Otherwise terminate CBIS.

Recommendations Always advertise early and in a professional fashion, Try to give a good answer to student's questions as much as you can in order to have their confidence in you. For example, a CBIS student will ask whether he can work as a lecturer or not. A good answer is that your chances are much better if you do work in Industry. Try to minimize the costs in order to reduce the fees if possible, Select your best local lecturers and train them if necessary and Try to have regular meetings with students and do not rely on all the time as the students prefer to take the information directly from the administration.