Distance learning perspectives for Mozambique: the role of NRENs and international collaboration

Abstract

Facing the difficulties of developing countries in a global system of high-quality face-to-face education, e-learning technologies and initiatives became mandatory. At a higher education level, these initiatives, involving worldwide partnerships with developed countries, represent many times the convenient way to sustain international curricula and research projects, crucial to guide these countries to the next level from an education and research perspective. National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), providing either connectivity and operational support services, represent the current trend of collaboration and sharing of scientific knowledge among the various communities spread throughout the world. This paper aims to discuss the NRENs panorama in Africa and analyze the challenges inherent to providing sustainable distance learning services for the NRENs academic and research community. In particular: the contextualization of distance learning initiatives and directives in the framework of Mozambique will be explored; the barriers and weaknesses for the improvement of the Mozambican higher education system will be identified; the role of MoRENet and international e-learning collaboration will be stressed; finally, proposals for the effective deployment of distance learning strategies to overcome the identified challenges will be presented.