Postsecondary Distance Education in Mexico and Worldwide

Postsecondary distance education has attracted increasing attention in recent years, an understandable change when one considers that innovative approaches to distance education have offered opportunities to overcome some of the key challenges in traditional “brick and mortar” education. Nonetheless, there are a plethora of issues that must be considered by postsecondary distance education institutions negotiating the delicate balance between educational access, efficiency, and quality. This article, the result of an interview with Professor Manuel Moreno (Rector of the University of Guadalajara's Virtual University System, and a leader in distance education in Mexico and beyond), highlights some of the key trends and issues faced in strategic planning, visioning, and leadership for postsecondary distance education initiatives. The work pays particular attention to the following themes: quality assurance; accreditation; globalization and transnationalism; and technological innovation.