Supporting Students in Distance Education: A Case Study of the PENER-16 Programme at the Hellenic Open University

This research focuses on student support in distance education by gathering data for the development of a comprehensive support framework. More specifically, the research, through the method of literature review, explores students’ needs and examines the potential of utilizing support mechanisms to address these needs. As a case study, the PENER-16 research project of the Hellenic Open University is chosen, which aims at the smooth familiarization of students with distance education by preventing dropout. The research findings demonstrate that students need support, instructional design, self-regulation, and communication. Moreover PENER-16 guidelines are aligned with the needs of students, promoting equal inclusion and reducing inequalities in both access to and success in education.