The distance learning system of Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was established to introduce and develop distance learning based on modern information technologies in the University’s principal fields of study.
The main objectives of the distance learning system are:
- to build, administer, and support an integrated distance learning system at KUL NASU;
- to provide information and advisory services on distance learning to KUL NASU staff and students, and to train tutors and developers of online courses;
- to study and implement successful Ukrainian and international experience in distance learning technologies, as well as innovations in distance learning software and hardware;
- to promote cooperation between KUL NASU and Ukrainian and international educational institutions and other participants in the distance learning market.
DISTANCE EDUCATION AT KUL NASU IS RIGHT FOR YOU!
The KUL NASU distance learning system enables you to obtain a legal education remotely—effectively without leaving home—using a personal computer and the Internet under the guidance of experienced lecturers. You do not need to attend classes or take lecture notes every day. Complete electronic lecture notes prepared by our lecturers are available to you in ready-to-use digital form on your computer screen.
- WHAT IS DISTANCE LEARNING?
The term “distance learning” speaks for itself: it is learning from a distance. The educational process is organised in a specially designed learning environment using modern information and communication technologies. A distance learning system makes it possible to receive an education using a personal computer and Internet access.
Article 49 of the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” dated 1 July 2014 states: “The principal forms of higher education are: institutional (full-time (daytime or evening), part-time, distance, and network-based); dual”.
The Concept for the Development of Distance Education in Ukraine, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated 20 December 2000, states: “Distance education is a form of education equivalent to full-time, evening, part-time, and external studies, implemented primarily through distance learning technologies”.
The Regulations on Distance Learning, approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated 25 April 2013, state: “Distance learning means an individualised process of acquiring knowledge, skills, abilities, and methods of cognitive activity, carried out primarily through mediated interaction between participants in the educational process who are physically separated from one another, within a specialised environment operating on the basis of modern psychological, pedagogical, information, and communication technologies”.
The Regulations on Distance Learning, approved by Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated 25 April 2013, state: “Distance learning is a form of organising the educational process in higher education institutions that ensures the implementation of distance learning and enables graduates to obtain state-recognised documents confirming the relevant educational or educational-qualification level”.
- KEY FEATURES OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
- Flexibility: pupils, students, and learners receiving distance education generally do not attend regular classes; they study at a time and place convenient for them. A small part of the distance education process, both in duration and scope, may take place in person (examinations, practical or laboratory work, and similar activities). The extent and content of this component depend on the field of study or specialisation and the stage of development of distance education.
- Modularity: distance education programmes are based on a modular principle. Each individual course provides a coherent understanding of a particular subject area, allowing a curriculum suited to individual or group needs to be assembled from a set of independent course modules.
- Parallel study: learning takes place alongside professional activity or study in another field, without interrupting employment or another type of activity.
- Large audience: many pupils, students, and learners can access numerous sources of educational information simultaneously and communicate with one another and with lecturers through telecommunications.
- Cost-effectiveness: efficient use of teaching space and technical resources, concentrated and standardised presentation of information, and the use and development of computer modelling should reduce the cost of training specialists.
- Technology: the educational process uses recent advances in information technology, helping individuals enter the global information space.
- Social equality: equal opportunities to receive an education regardless of place of residence, health, or social status.
- International reach: the opportunity to study at foreign educational institutions without leaving one’s country and to provide educational services to foreign citizens and compatriots living abroad.
- The new role of the lecturer: distance education expands and renews the lecturer’s role, making the lecturer a mentor and adviser who coordinates the learning process, continually improves the courses taught, and develops creativity and professional qualifications in response to new developments and innovations.
- Positive impact on the student: distance education develops a person’s creative and intellectual potential through self-organisation, a desire for knowledge, the use of modern information and telecommunications technologies, and the ability to make responsible decisions independently.
- Quality: the quality of distance education is not inferior to that of full-time study, because leading academic staff are involved in preparing teaching materials and the latest educational and methodological resources are used. Specialised quality control is also envisaged to ensure that distance education complies with educational standards.
- GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF DISTANCE LEARNING
The goal of distance learning is to provide educational services using modern information and communication technologies at defined educational or educational-qualification levels in accordance with state education standards, including programmes preparing citizens for admission to educational institutions, programmes for international students, and employee professional development.
The objective of distance learning is to enable citizens to exercise their constitutional right to education, professional qualifications, and continuing professional development according to their abilities, regardless of sex, race, nationality, social or financial status, occupation, worldview, party affiliation, attitude toward religion, religious belief, health, or place of residence.
- ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DISTANCE LEARNING
A major advantage of distance learning is that it can provide access to every level of education for people who are unable to study at higher education institutions in traditional formats for various reasons:
lack of time. Distance learning removes the need to attend an educational institution at a fixed timetable. Students decide when and how much time to devote to their studies. It allows you to learn when convenient, at your own pace, and within a timeframe you choose;
professional or other commitments. Distance learning enables people who spend much of their day at work, caring for children, or with their families to receive an education. They can study while building a career without risking a good job, or while on parental leave.
distance from educational institutions. Distance learning offers an educational opportunity to those living in remote regions of the country or abroad. It provides a unique opportunity to gain knowledge without leaving one’s country, region, or city.
- financial circumstances. Distance learning allows students to save substantial amounts compared with other forms of study while receiving quality knowledge and a state-recognised diploma. This is primarily because the educational process is based on purposeful and supervised independent work that students can complete at a convenient time and place. The institution can therefore reduce expenditure on premises, utilities, lecturers’ salaries, and similar costs.
- physical circumstances. Modern information and communication technologies used in distance education enable people with medical restrictions on traditional study and people with disabilities or additional needs to receive an education.
Another advantage of distance education is that it can improve the quality of educational services by involving highly qualified lecturers and practising professionals from various fields in preparing and delivering distance learning and creating online educational resources. Distance learning students receive complete electronic lecture notes based on the full-time curriculum.
Online distance learning also supports personal development by increasing self-organisation and responsibility and improving computer literacy.
The disadvantages of distance learning include, above all, the difficulty of verifying a student’s identity—it may be impossible to determine who is taking an examination. To address this issue, an in-person session is included in the educational process, during which students take mandatory examinations and present identity documents.
Additional requirements for students entering distance learning include having a personal computer, Internet access with sufficient bandwidth, and basic skills in modern information and communication technologies (Windows, MS Office, email, and a personal email account).
- HOW DOES THE DISTANCE LEARNING PROCESS WORK?
After enrolling at KUL NASU, you enter into a study agreement with the University. Once the agreement has been signed and you have been registered in the KUL NASU database, you receive a login and password for access to the KUL NASU distance learning system. You then begin studying according to your individual curriculum.
Students receive access to complete electronic lecture notes for their subjects in the KUL NASU distance learning system, in the same scope as the full-time programme. You do not need to attend classes and take lecture notes every day. You can review our lecturers’ complete electronic lecture notes at home, at work, or in an Internet café.
All academic subjects are assigned to departments of the KUL NASU Faculty of Law and Faculty of International Relations. The departments appoint tutor-lecturers for each subject, who maintain the relevance of online learning materials and add new information. Tutor-lecturers support the educational process, review assignments, and communicate with students using distance-learning tools such as forums and chats.
A small part of the distance education process, both in duration and scope, takes place in person, including examinations and the defence of course papers. The extent and content of this component depend on the field of study or specialisation and the stage of development of distance education.
- SOCIAL GROUPS SERVED BY THE DISTANCE EDUCATION SYSTEM
Distance learning is intended for the following social groups:
- people preparing to enter higher education institutions;
- people who cannot access high-quality educational services in the traditional education system because of professional commitments;
- people who cannot study in the traditional education system because they live far from educational institutions;
- people who cannot study in the traditional education system because of family circumstances, including parental leave;
- people with disabilities or additional needs who have medical restrictions on studying at higher education institutions in traditional formats;
- conscripts serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, or the Border Guard of Ukraine;
- heads of government bodies at various levels;
- students who wish to pursue a second degree at the same time;
- unemployed people who wish to receive an education;
- people who wish to pursue postgraduate education;
- citizens of Ukraine temporarily or permanently residing abroad;
- Ukrainian-speaking citizens of other countries.
- DISTANCE LEARNING AT KUL NASU
The State National Programme “Education: Ukraine in the 21st Century” provides for the development of education based on new progressive concepts, the introduction of effective teaching technologies and scientific and methodological achievements into the educational process, the creation of a new education information system, and Ukraine’s integration into the transcontinental computer information system. Distance education is the most promising form of learning using modern information and communication technologies and technical resources. Distance learning technologies can be used in all forms of study—full-time (daytime), evening, part-time, and external—and in all types of learning, including first and second degrees, retraining and reskilling, pre-university preparation, seminars, and training courses.
By providing freedom to choose the place, time, and pace of study through modern information and communication technologies, distance learning enables people who cannot combine traditional study with work or who live in remote areas to receive a complete education and a state-recognised diploma confirming the relevant educational or educational-qualification level. Distance learning plays a particularly important role in providing education to people with disabilities and conscripts, among others.
Distance education at KUL NASU began in December 2004, while preparations to introduce modern teaching methods had started in 2003. The number of our students grew steadily, from 51 students in 2005 to 130 in 2013; in 2013, the Kyiv University of Law of NASU Distance Learning Centre held its ninth graduation.
Back in 2003, distance education was difficult for both University academic staff and students to envisage. Our search for new, modern, advanced, and effective forms of distance learning went through many stages. At first, materials were sent by email, and later Microsoft Class Server software was used. In the second semester of the 2008–2009 academic year, the Centre moved to the Moodle distance learning platform, which enables any student to master course material through Internet communications by providing access to numerous electronic educational resources and monitoring their progress.
Today, the KUL NASU e-learning system installed on our server effectively addresses the needs of distance education, as demonstrated by the quality of our graduates’ qualifications. All our graduates—including members of parliament, ministers and deputy ministers, mayors of large and small cities and towns, judges, notaries, law enforcement officers, entrepreneurs, homemakers, and people with disabilities for whom this may be the only opportunity to obtain their chosen qualification—successfully passed their state examinations. According to the Chair of the State Examination Commission, compared with part-time students they were better prepared for their chosen profession and demonstrated strong knowledge of legislation. They proved that distance learning has a future both at Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and throughout Ukraine.
General information about admission to distance learning
The term “distance learning” speaks for itself: it is learning from a distance. Distance education is an innovative way of organising the educational process in higher education institutions. It is equivalent to traditional forms of study—full-time (daytime), evening, part-time, and external—and is based on mediated interaction between geographically separated participants in a specially designed learning environment. The KUL NASU distance learning system uses Moodle, one of the world’s most popular learning management systems.
The modern distance learning technologies used by KUL NASU connect geographically separated students, lecturers, and educational materials, enabling students to receive a higher legal education and a state-recognised diploma using a personal computer and the Internet.
The advantages of distance learning include
- a flexible study schedule—the educational process is based on purposeful and supervised independent work that students can complete at a convenient time and place;
- improved educational quality through the involvement of highly qualified lecturers and practising professionals from various fields in creating online educational resources. Students receive access to complete electronic lecture notes based on the full-time curriculum;
- lower tuition costs because the institution spends less on organising the educational process, while students save on travel to the place of study, accommodation in a residence hall, and similar expenses.
Admission to distance learning is governed by the Admissions Rules of Kyiv University of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for the relevant year. Additional requirements for students entering distance learning at KUL NASU include having a personal computer, Internet access, and basic skills in modern information and communication technologies (Windows, MS Office, email, and a personal email account).
How does the distance learning process work? The educational process is organised in a specially designed distance learning system using modern information and communication technologies. It is based on purposeful and supervised independent work that students can complete at a convenient time and place.
After enrolling at KUL NASU, you receive a login and password for access to the KUL NASU distance learning system and begin studying according to your individual curriculum.
Tutor-lecturers are assigned to each subject. They support the educational process, review assignments, and communicate with students using distance-learning tools such as forums and chats.
A small part of the distance education process, both in duration and scope, takes place in person, including examinations and the defence of course papers.
Distance Learning System Address
7-A A. Dobrokhotova Street, Kyiv, 01030, Room 107-A
Zhytomyrska or Akademmistechko metro station
Tel./fax: (044) 235-63-65
Mobile: (067) 386-88-01
E–mail: cdn@kul.kiev.ua