Abstract:

The State University of Quintana Roo is located in the south-east region of Mexico (Peninsula of Yucatan) and is considered as one the newest universities in this country. The university offers a variety of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, which include engineering, economics, international relations, humanities, law, among others. It has two campuses; one located in Chetumal (the capital city of the State of Quintana Roo) and the other in the island of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. At the time of this investigation, the total population in both campuses is 3432 students.

The University of Quintana Roo has been asked to respond to lifelong learning which involves a competitive, globalized, knowledge-based economy depending on continuum improvement and change. As a consequence, It is compulsory to identigy and select new programs, new qualifications and new means of delivery. Distance Education is a key element so one of the main challenges for this university if to design and develop a model of Distance Education based on its own nature, context and individuals.

The main objective of this research project, approved and supported by the “Común de Educación Superior a Distancia de México (ECOESAD)” is oriented to the design and implementation of a Distance Education model as a educational alternative at the University of Quintana Roo through a collective planning divided into five stages: a)Design and application of a needs analysis questionnaire, b) Workshop with the academic staff population, c) Design of a Distance Education model, d) A center for training instructors in Distance Education and the development of instructional materials.
In this paper, a report from the first three stages will be provided. Also the results from the online questionnaire and the workshop will be shown. Finally, pedagogical implications in the implementation of this model will be presented.

Keywords:

Distance Education, Higher Education, ICT tools.