London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

A postgraduate college, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) launched its first distance learning courses in 1998. Today, 2,700 students around the world are enrolled on the courses, which cover critical aspects of international public health and tropical medicine. Their numbers have grown significantly, increasing by 40 per cent over three years.

All distance learning students are part-time, with the vast majority also being in full-time employment. Many come from low- and middle-income countries or work in international development, so particular attention has been given to developing appropriate course design and content.

Responsibility for distance learning courses is shared with the University of London International Programmes (formerly known as the External System). LSHTM sets, delivers and monitors the academic content and integrity of the courses. International Programmes manages specific administrative functions such as student admissions, dispatch of study materials, and coordination of examination arrangements.

Distance learning courses are designed as self-study opportunities with a strong link to the face-to-face teaching programme in aspects such as content, assessment and staffing. Students receive academic tutoring and assessment feedback from subject tutors, usually via e-mail and the use of web-based conference systems. Networking and mutual support with others studying on the programme is encouraged and in some countries is facilitated by LSHTM staff and local research collaborators.

With students based around the world, a significant proportion have limited access to high-quality internet connections (e.g. on some courses over a third of students are from sub-Saharan African countries) so the extent of online learning varies. At one extreme it consists primarily of the use of virtual learning environments for student-student and student-tutor interaction but with most content delivered in other formats. At the other, content delivery is primarily internet-based, supported by some additional textbooks and reading materials.

Assessment is via written assignments of various types together with unseen written examination papers taken at one of an extensive network of University of London approved centres around the world (e.g. universities, British Council offices).

The school is making increasing use of its distance learning materials in other settings, including online materials, for example under free licence to institutions in South Africa and India to adapt for local courses. It has also recently participated in a JISC-funded open educational resources project, using online material on malaria as a pilot resource.