Introduction
Since its establishment on 27 February 1997, SEAMOLEC has not only prioritized on the preparation of legal documents as a new SEAMEO center but also on conducting activities corresponding to its objectives and functions.
During the pre-establishment of SEAMOLEC, an Indonesian Task Force (ITF) representing related institutions was formed. The members of the Indonesian Task Force are representatives of the Center for Communication and Information Technology for Education (Pustekkom), the Indonesian Open Learning University (UT), the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Biro KLN), and the Indonesian Association of Educational Technologists (IPTPI).
Then, the ITF was extended to be a SEAMOLEC Feasibility Study Team consisting of the representatives of SEAMEO Member Countries and SEAMEO Secretariat. This team is to prepare and conduct the feasibility study for the establishment of SEAMOLEC. The team had worked very hard through two SEAMEO workshops (conducted in Jakarta and Yogyakarta) and finally it could successfully accomplish its task by submitting the feasibility study report to SEAMEO High Officials Meeting (HOM) in Bangkok, Thailand and SEAMEO Council Conference in Manila, Philippines.
The rationale for the establishment of SEAMOLEC, among others was the conviction that conventional schools alone will not be able to meet the education for all. Furthermore, several SEAMEO member countries have implemented open and distance learning programs as alternative ways for increasing the opportunities and access for learners to participate in educational/training programs.
There are still some SEAMEO member countries that have not yet implemented any open and distance learning programs even though the need for education and training cannot be provided by existing conventional institutions. In order to promote the implementation of open and distance learning and foster the growth of existing open and distance learning programs to meet the demand of "education for all", the SEAMOLEC project proposal was developed.
VISION
To be a center of expertise in open and distance learning
MISSION
To Serve one million clients by 2010 and To assist SEAMEO Member Countries in identifying educational problems and finding alternative solutions for sustainable human resource development through the dissemination and effective use of open and distance learning
Goal and Objectives
The goal of SEAMOLEC is to undertake relevant programs that are responsive to current national and regional requirements in the field of open and distance learning. In a more specific formulation, the objectives are to assist:
- SEAMEO member countries in promoting and fostering open and distance learning as another way to meet the demand for education and training. In this regard, open and distance learning can function to complement, supplement, or substitute conventional classroom instruction.
- Open and distance learning providers in SEAMEO Member Countries in:
- Designing, developing, evaluating, promoting, improving and expanding their services so as to accelerate student participation, lower drop out rate, and increase the number of qualified graduates;
- Establishing co-operative linkages for mutual help and formation of open and distance learning network; and
- Identifying, acquiring, and utilizing resources.
Functions
To accomplish the vision, mission, goal, and objectives, SEAMOLEC will hold the functions of training, research and development, information, consulting, and resource linking on any aspect of open and distance learning. The intention for SEAMOLEC is that it will be a specialist in open and distance learning organization/institution, and not in conflict with other SEAMEO Centers. There are seven functions proposed by the study team to all SEAMEO member countries to be reviewed. The seven functions of SEAMOLEC could be accepted. The comments the study team received from the member countries was on activities for each function. The functions are as follows:
- To provide training in the development and practice of open and distance learning systems.
- To conduct needs assessment, research and evaluation on open and distance learning, and educational technology.
- To disseminate information on open and distance learning and on the use of technology to make learning more effective.
- To foster collaborative arrangements and links between regional/national agencies and between the Center and external open and distance learning.
- To facilitate inter-institutional open and distance learning courseware acquisition, exchange, development and adaptation in the region.
- To promote sharing and exchanges of expertise and other resources for the improvement of the quality in open and distance learning.
- To advise open and distance learning providers in SEAMEO member countries on the identification, acquisition and utilization of resources including the selection of appropriate technology.
Beneficiaries
The immediate and direct beneficiaries are the institutions that provide education and training through distance learning. However the intended primary beneficiaries are:
- The trainees, students and participants from all sectors of the population, both men and women, urban and rural, who are unable to benefit from the traditional education and training systems.
- Men and women already in the work-force who wish to upgrade their skills or to gain new competencies to enhance their career development and employment opportunities.
- Adults who wish to improve their educational standard through this second change modality.
- Traditional educational and training institutions who will utilize good distance learning materials as part of their own instructional provision.
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