Stakeholders’ perceptions about the competences of open and Distance Learning Graduates
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Date
2025-01-25
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Research and Scientific Innovation Society (RSIS International)
Abstract
Education plays a vital role in individual and national development. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is an
educational approach that enables learners to study independently within their own environments without
attending conventional classes. In ODL, the learning is facilitated through provided course outlines or modules.
This quantitative study investigates the perceptions of key stakeholders, including ODL learners, employers, and
the head of a nearby school, regarding the skills, values, and competencies of ODL graduates, as well as their
ability to perform assigned tasks. The study was conducted at the Institute of Adult Education learning centres
found in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Ruvuma, with a total of 622 respondents. The data was collected through
closed-ended questionnaires and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version
23. Descriptive statistics, including tables, frequencies, and percentages, were used to present the data, while
inferential analysis employed the Pearson Chi-square test to determine relationships between variables. The
results indicate that stakeholders, including employers and ODL learners, expressed confidence in the innovative
skills developed by ODL graduates. The heads of the nearby schools were particularly confident with graduates'
communication skills. Employers showed the highest confidence in the graduates’ ability to effectively manage
assigned tasks. Similarly, the heads of the nearby schools were confident in the ODL program for equipping
graduates with quality and sustainable skills to serve their communities. They also recognized the graduates'
ability to demonstrate a high level of competence when taking on responsibilities. ODL learners consistently
expressed confidence in nearly all aspects of the program’s outcomes. The study recommends that ODL
institutions partner with employers to understand the skills ODL graduates should possess to succeed in the
workplace. Additionally, ODL institutions should ensure that their programs are of high quality so that all
graduates meet consistent standards of professional readiness in the labour market.
Description
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE Page 4643-4653
Keywords
Open and distance learning, ODL graduates, Graduate skills, Knowledge and competences, Stakeholders’ perception.
Citation
https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8120389