A Multi-dimensional Framework for Understanding How Higher Education Institutions Offer Distance Education and Its Application

From a global view, there are multiple development models of distance education in universities and colleges. Based on previous researches, one six-dimensional framework has been proposed for analyzing the development models of distance education institutions. These dimensions include: single-mode vs. mix-mode, for-profit vs. non-profit, centralized vs. decentralized, access-oriented vs. quality-oriented, separate vs. integrated, bottom-up vs. top-down. Institutions offering distance programs are different in these dimensions, yet they are coming to convergence gradually in many aspects. In this article, the six-dimensional framework has also been used to understand how one specific university offers its distance education.