Distance Education and Family Business Development

Abstract

Distance education over the decades has generated tremendous excitement both inside and outside higher education. For some, it offers the potential for learning new audiences; it offers the opportunity fundamentally to transform learning delivery and the competitive landscape. Distance learning benefits may outweigh the disadvantages for students in such a technology-driven society. However, before indulging into the use of educational technology a few more disadvantages should be considered. Through the years, all of the obstacles have been overcome and the world environment for distance education continues to improve. Some obstacles to distance education is the lack of direct face-to-face social interaction. However, people become used to personal and social interaction online it is becoming easier for learners to both project themselves and socialize with others. This paper is a literature review on the importance of distance education commonly known as Open and Distance Learning. The main objective of this paper was to come out with the link between distance learning and improved leadership and the businesses. The literature and empirical studies show the importance of distance learning and the family business development. Scant literature shows that, family-owned businesses have been considered in terms of training to improve leadership skills and business management skills. It is learned that, family business owners assume they do not have time to leave business and attend formal classes. The paper recommends the Open and Distance Learning in higher learning institutions to design suitable programmes for family-owned businesses towards improving and advancing knowledge and skills for business sustainability.