Rethinking Open Universities

This paper considers the current state of the United Kingdom Open University (UKOU) and the implications for the evolution of higher education, whether through open or traditional institutions. Although 50 years have passed since the establishment of UKOU, the first open university, such institutions seem to be losing their ground, notably because they face challenges in creating a clear identity for themselves. By definition, they have been distinguished from traditional universities by offering both open access and open admission. However, some cases of open access (i.e., distance teaching through the adoption of various technologies) are found in China, South Africa, the USSR, and the US. Even so, the introduction of open admission policies can be considered a core feature of open universities. Such policies have been criticized for creating a so-called revolving door, with students failing almost immediately. To counteract this, UKOU developed a particular quality assurance system, which allowed them to be an authoritative higher education institution. Specifically, they structured regional networks with shared responsibilities, to offer all the elements that make up a university including headquarters, regional offices, and even spaces for students. This form of networked university is what differentiates open universities from the traditional university model and constitutes a unique feature of this type of educational institution.

Evaluating the open admission practice in vocational colleges (Kirklareli University case)

With a regulation made in 2001, vocational and technical secondary education graduates were given the right to enroll to vocational colleges without taking the national central exam. However, this regulation was repealed in 2016. If the students are placed in an associate degree program in the same field, additional points are added to the points gained from central examination. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the open admission practice which had been going on for more than fifteen years and the abolition of this practice according to the opinions of the academics who work in vocational colleges of Kirklareli University. The data of the research were collected with the help of four open ended questions in written form, with the qualitative research method. The abolition of the open admission practice is evaluated as a positive development by academic stuff of Kirklareli University, in terms of the quality of education and employability. The research findings show that eliminating the open admission practice is a positive practice. According to the findings of the study, was evaluated positively the removal of the open admission practice. Inter-agency cooperation on the issue can be useful.