| There are four main factors that impel the development of African distance higher education: the serious lack of education resources; higher education demands exceed supply; the market demand for lifelong learning and the evolution of information communion technology. Kenya is among the few Sub-African countries that have an early history of developing distance higher education. In 1997, Kenyaparticipated in the international distance higher education programme--AfricanVirtual University(AVU), which is founded by World Bank. This programme is the pioneer in regard of technology, cooperation and curricula transmission. This study take the AVU programme located in Kenyatta University in Kenya [AVU(KU)] as an object, and is to explore its development model systemically. Development model presents in two levels in its expanding course: one is the basic regulation establishment and policy choice concerning the development, which is the basic frame and existent form of development; the other is the concrete ways and means concerning the development, which is the necessary technology guarantee and material foundation. Therefore, this study expounded the background of the birth and development of AVU(KU) firstly, then work on the development model of AVU(KU).The main discussions are the noumenal constitution of this development model and the cognition and evaluation to it. The noumenal constitution includes the international cooperation, transmission system, teaching and executive management, academic programme and future direction etc. The cognition and evaluation includes the characters, features, influences, challenges and enlightenments of AVU(KU).This paper consists of six parts.Part one: introduction. It puts forward the topic of study; defines the concept of "distance higher education", "virtual university" and "development model"; makes a brief analysis of relevant literature at home and abroad; introduces the intention, content, methods and significance of this study.Part two: the introduction of the background of the birth and development of AVU(KU). It Includes the historical evolvement of distance higher education and international education aid in Kenya; the establishment of AVU and the birth of AVU(KU).Part three: the introduction of the administration of AVU(KU). It gives a detailed description on the administrative departments with regard to AVU(KU), the finance of distance higher education in Kenya and the management of AVU(KU).Part four: the elucidation of academic programmes of AVU(KU). It Includes the issue of curriculum property right; various courses and its recruitment and function state; the AVU digital library and the virtual laboratory.Part five: the summary and reflection to the development model of AVU(KU). Firstly, it sums up the favorable impacts of AVU(KU) on enlarging education resources, improving regional capacity building, promoting teaching and learning reformation and enhancing income. Secondly, it probes into the pertinency of AVU(KU), and points out that the birth and development of AVU(KU) is an age current, the key is how to make it more "localizing". Thirdly, it summarizes the features of the development model, include its internationalism, modernity, commerciality and practicality. Fourthly, it points its challenges on the national institution, college organization, infrastructure and human resources. Fifthly, it analyses the new orientation of AVU and the character and future stratagem of AVU(KU) in the context of the ownership turns to Africa. Considers that the direction which AVU(KU) strives for is to go from accepting education aid to education cooperation and strengthen the shares between African countries.Part six: the enlightenments of AVU(KU) to our distance higher education, education aid and cooperation between China and Africa. AVU(KU) enlightens us on the policy system building of distance higher education, management system reformation and setting global education notion. Simultaneously, it also tell us that we should pay more attention to the theory study, develop regional cooperation, create better condition for talented people and renovate the aid model in the education aid and cooperation between China and Africa. |
