Title:
ACCESS TO QUALITY POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION THROUGH WALL LESS HIGHER INSTITUTION IN ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF UNISA IN ADDIS ABABA

Authors:
Melese Mekasha Woldeyes

Abstract:
This article addresses the issue of access to quality postgraduate education through wall less higher Institution. It was developed within an argument that access to conventional face-to-face postgraduate studies is still a challenge in developing countries. It argues that distance education can be used as an alternative means of meeting the increasing demand for higher education in the country concerned. This study used a case study of Masters of Arts in Sociology (MAS) program that is offered by South Africa University (UNISA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to gather the relevant data, to validate the dominate nature of qualitative research method. The study established that distance education has a huge potential as an alternative and cost-effective means of providing quality higher education in Ethiopia. The study suggests that careful planning and integration of distance education into the national higher education policy will enable effective and efficient provision of quality distance postgraduate education in developing countries like Ethiopia.