What is the history of distance learning?
The history of DL goes back more than 100 years in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The first London University External Degree programs for overseas students started in 1858. The innovative Open University, started in 1971 in the UK, and has been copied around the world. Today, the largest DL student body in the world is part of UNISA, the University of South Africa, with more than 200,000 people enrolled worldwide. In Australia, the University of Queensland offered an external degree in the 1890’s due to sparse populations and large open expanses. Today, Australia’s higher education system incorporates DL in many programs, and is considered a model for other nations. In the USA, some schools offered courses through DL in the late 19th century. Columbia University offered DL options in the 1920’s, and other schools offered courses by radio in the 30’s and courses via television in the 60’s. However, DL remained a little-known means of earning a college degree throughout most of the 20th cent
