In recent years, financial crises of higher education have become universal. The policy of cost-sharing by in- dividuals was tried out in many countries. However, empirical studies have shown that the policy has, to a...In recent years, financial crises of higher education have become universal. The policy of cost-sharing by in- dividuals was tried out in many countries. However, empirical studies have shown that the policy has, to a certain de- gree, negative effects for the poor in accepting higher education costs. This paper points out it is the mismatch between tuition fees and the ability to pay that causes the problem. Using two dimensions of group and time to pay, a mode sys- tem, including seven modes for the individual to share the cost of higher education, was constructed. It is suggested that only three modes of pay-immediately have been carried out in China and they all have same shortcomings. To try new modes and exercise different modes synthetically will be meaningful for solving the questions that exist in the current policy.展开更多
For most open universities,in fact for most universities,there will arise occasions when some online activities will have to be completed by all students in a very short time interval.These occasions usually result in...For most open universities,in fact for most universities,there will arise occasions when some online activities will have to be completed by all students in a very short time interval.These occasions usually result in a great rush to get online as quickly as possible;the rush is often made worst by the limited good choices on offer such that usually only the earliest can get the best.Choosing and confirming elective subjects,when only a limited number for each are offered,on a first-come-first-served basis is an example. At the Open University Malaysia the rush occurs when confirming offered subjects and choosing face-to-face meeting timetable.Most students rushed to be earliest to ensure choice slots in the timetable are obtained. Available I.T.resources such as Internet bandwidth and servers cannot cope with these short-term sustained peak demands.Unless these peak demands are met,however,online services will slow down drastically resulting in long queues of users waiting to be served.Providing excess capacity,if at all possible,to ensure these short duration peak demands can be met would not be cost-effective since most of the time these resources are not utilised.This paper will look at some cost-effective approaches to meeting these short-term peak demands.展开更多
文摘In recent years, financial crises of higher education have become universal. The policy of cost-sharing by in- dividuals was tried out in many countries. However, empirical studies have shown that the policy has, to a certain de- gree, negative effects for the poor in accepting higher education costs. This paper points out it is the mismatch between tuition fees and the ability to pay that causes the problem. Using two dimensions of group and time to pay, a mode sys- tem, including seven modes for the individual to share the cost of higher education, was constructed. It is suggested that only three modes of pay-immediately have been carried out in China and they all have same shortcomings. To try new modes and exercise different modes synthetically will be meaningful for solving the questions that exist in the current policy.
文摘For most open universities,in fact for most universities,there will arise occasions when some online activities will have to be completed by all students in a very short time interval.These occasions usually result in a great rush to get online as quickly as possible;the rush is often made worst by the limited good choices on offer such that usually only the earliest can get the best.Choosing and confirming elective subjects,when only a limited number for each are offered,on a first-come-first-served basis is an example. At the Open University Malaysia the rush occurs when confirming offered subjects and choosing face-to-face meeting timetable.Most students rushed to be earliest to ensure choice slots in the timetable are obtained. Available I.T.resources such as Internet bandwidth and servers cannot cope with these short-term sustained peak demands.Unless these peak demands are met,however,online services will slow down drastically resulting in long queues of users waiting to be served.Providing excess capacity,if at all possible,to ensure these short duration peak demands can be met would not be cost-effective since most of the time these resources are not utilised.This paper will look at some cost-effective approaches to meeting these short-term peak demands.