POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY OF KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY, ZAMBIA
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Abstract
This study examines how governance dynamics and policy implementation processes shape the delivery and outcomes of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) at Kwame Nkrumah University, Zambia. Although ODL has been institutionalised as a strategy for expanding access to higher education, fluctuations in enrolment and persistent operational challenges suggest underlying governance and implementation inefficiencies. The study addresses the inadequacy of policy implementation and governance mechanisms in supporting effective ODL delivery, resulting in a gap between policy intent and practice that undermines programme effectiveness and sustainability. Limited empirical evidence on the operationalisation of ODL policy frameworks within dual-mode universities further compounds this challenge. Guided by the interpretivist paradigm and Transactional Distance Theory, the study adopts a qualitative case study design involving 30 purposively selected participants, including students, graduates, lecturers, and ODL administrators. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and document analysis and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings reveal that while ODL improves access and flexibility, its effectiveness is constrained by weak policy implementation, inadequate learner support systems, limited institutional autonomy, insufficient learning materials, and resource constraints. Governance fragmentation and inconsistencies between policy intent and practice negatively affect programme quality and sustainability. The study contributes to the limited scholarship on ODL governance in Zambia by providing context-specific insights into the relationship between policy frameworks and implementation practices. It recommends improved institutional coordination, investment in digital infrastructure, and strengthened learner support systems to enhance policy operationalisation and programme sustainability
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