This book describes the history, structure and institutions of open and distance education in six countries: China, India, Russia, Turkey, South Africa and South Korea. It describes how open and distance education is evolving in a digital age to reflect the needs and circumstances of the national higher education systems in these countries. It…

In many countries, "open and distance education" is perceived as a way to meet the growing need for higher education. This paper explores the development of online and distance education in three countries that are still a white spot on the landscape of international distance education research although they have implemented elaborated…

Communication is an indispensable part of international cooperation and it requires managing different cultures. Being prepared to see and understand different values, trying to understand contrasting views in a consortium, can decrease the potential of misperception which otherwise may act as a real barrier to cooperation. This is why…

The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by globalization--the integration of national economies and the development of technology and information technology--and by a new type of society--the knowledge-based society. Changes in society require changes in education, the mission of higher education institutions, and traditional ways of…

The Moscow University of Economics (MESI) was the first university in Russia to become involved in distance education. MESI proposed that an experiment be conducted in Russia in the field of distance education to evaluate its potential. This article discusses the answers that were obtained to a number of the questions that were posed. The…

This volume contains papers submitted to the 12th Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), held in Sofia and Nessebar, Bulgaria, in June 2014, and papers submitted to the 2nd International Partner Conference, organized by the International Research Centre 'Scientific Cooperation,' Rostov-on-Don,…