Distance Learning in Professional Higher Education: Characteristics of Students

Abstract

Based on the data obtained in the MEMO Project

Lyudmila Ugolnova, Deputy Head of the Data Processing Department, Center for Institutional Studies, National Research University — Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation. Email: lugolnova@hse.ru 

The situation in distance higher education in Russia is described using statistical data and results of the polls conducted among students of professional higher education institutions and employers as part of the MEMO Project (Monitoring of Education Markets and Organizations).

The number of distance students in HE institutions has more than doubled over the last decade, making distance learning the most popular way of getting professional higher education. The paper shows how students are distributed among different forms of learning in public and private HE institutions. The proportion of distance students has been increasing, while the proportion of full-time and part-time students has been naturally decreasing in both private and public institutions, although to a lesser extent in the latter.

The author specifies the differences between full-time and distance students in terms of their social and demographic status, educational and career strategies. She also explains the motivation for choosing distance learning. The paper investigates how full-time and distance students assess their chances of working in their field of study.

A survey among employers has shown that full-time students have a certain advantage when applying for a job after graduation. Preferences of employers in hiring graduates and undergraduates are also presented.