Chinese delegation visits UB
Heads of TV universities tour distance-learning facilities

By SUSAN M. MARCHIONE
Reporter Contributor

Learning by televised coursework is a well-established tradition in China, where more than 500,000 students are enrolled in more than 10,000 classes offered by 44 Provincial Radio and TV Universities (TVUs).

Presidents and other officers of seven of these provincial TVUs visited UB Sept. 29 to look at how their American counterparts are approaching distance learning and to learn about U.S. higher education in general. UB was the only American university the delegation chose to visit.

The delegation toured the Center for Computational Research, the Educational Technology Center, the cybraries in the Undergraduate Library and the Center for the Arts. The group also observed a demonstration of the interactive video and online technology being used by Millard Fillmore College, the unit overseeing UB's distance-learning initiative.

Graduates of the TVUs, which have equivalent status to a junior college in this country, number about 2.3 million.

Assisted by a translator and three officials from the Toronto International Education Exchange Centre, TVU Presidents Tongshun Wang of Jilin and Yun Xia Zhang of Qinghai described to UB officials how the TVUs operate.

A subsidiary of the Chinese State Education Commission, TVUs have become an important and prestigious part of Chinese higher education. Established in 1979, they operate on five levels: central/federal, provincial, municipal/regional, county and local. Wang said that all mainland cities in China, with the exception of Tibet and Hong Kong, have at least one TVU. The state government provides the large-scale transmitting system with microwave network and satellite for its distance-learning operations.

While differences exist within the levels, management of the five primary responsibilities-planning, curriculum development, teacher recruitment, production of teaching materials, testing and examinations-as well as key administrative functions of the TVUs, is centralized.

Wang explained that overall planning, curriculum and software development, as well as the release of texts and audiovisual materials are among the responsibilities at the central level, while implementation of programming is the most critical responsibility at the provincial level.

TVUs also are responsible for ensuring all subject matter offered is of national interest.

Unlike the U.S., China manages two types of distance learning model: one which resembles the American model whereby a traditional university designates a unit for distance learning, and the more popular TVU system.

Like their American counterparts, Chinese students are given program options within distance learning. While courses can be taken for credit, the most popular means of study is the non-diploma, or non-credit course offering, with more than 30 million Chinese students selecting this method each year. Only a small percentage of students choose to work towards a university degree.

Surprisingly, students are charged for televised coursework, with tuition and student fees generating approximately half of the provincial TVUs' revenue. The state Education Commission provides the remaining financial support needed.

Yun Xia noted that designated student fees support Student Association-sponsored events and activities