Transformation by Innovation in Distance Education (TIDE) | British Council

TIDE is bringing together universities in the UK and Myanmar to improve the quality of distance learning in higher education, with the ambition of benefitting more than 500,000 students and resulting in more employable graduates. In this way, it aims to become a catalyst for further improvements across the higher education system, helping to support strategy and leadership for the future of the sector in Myanmar.

The challenge

Myanmar is at a critical time in its development. After years of low investment in the country’s higher education system, there is now an increasing demand for skilled graduates to meet new employment needs, particularly in relation to the environmental management of Myanmar’s natural resources to ensure sustainability over years of rapid development.

The solution

TIDE is strengthening and supporting innovations in Myanmar’s extensive distance education system, both at the institutional levels and in the design and delivery of learning, making use of the country’s rapidly emerging ICT infrastructure. It is developing a competency framework and relevant content for Education for Environment and Sustainable Development in collaboration with the private sector. It is also developing teaching approaches, media production skills and ICT and library support capacity for distance learning courses, and will create plans for the institutional framework for open and distance education.

Highlights

‘The TIDE project is a welcome second home for me in my 32-year journey in education.’ Professor, Department of Chemistry, Yangon University of Distance Education

The partners

The TIDE partnership is led by The Open University (UK), working with Yangon University (Myanmar), Yangon University of Distance Education (Myanmar), Yadanabon University (Myanmar), Irrawaddy Policy Exchange (UK), Oxford University (UK) and University of Manchester (UK).