Melinda K.

Parsons
OMDE 601 Section 9041
March 16, 2015
The of University of Liverpool and Anna University

The of University of Liverpool and Anna University

Introduction
University of Liverpool and the Anna University have many similar qualities as
well as many differences when it comes to distance education. University of Liverpool is
one of Europes largest online universities for masters and doctorate programs. Anna
University is located in India and it promotes online, self-learning and distance education
methodology (Anna University, 2014). In this paper, viewers will understand the
similarities and differences of University of Liverpool and Anna Universitys when it
comes to each institutions mission statements, history, the values of each institution, how
the school is organized and operates, models of teaching/learning, and the technology that
each institution uses.
Mission and Population Served
The University of Liverpool is located in the Netherlands, however the university
is used all over the world. There are 30 counties that use distance education classes at the
University of Liverpool, including, the United States, Cayman Island, and the Bahamas
(University of Liverpool, 2015). The University of Liverpool offers undergraduate
degrees and graduate degrees programs to more than 780,000 students across the world
(University of Liverpool, 2015). The main purpose of this university is to provide
students with an affordable education and can pursue the students educational goals.
Even though Anna University is not as large and/or well known as University of
Liverpool, the university takes pride in having a school that promotes online selflearning, and distance education to students in India. Anna University also likes to take
real life scenarios and situations to help teach the students during the students

professional courses (Anna University, 2014). Anna University also has 12 sister
universities that specializes in different degrees (i.e. technology, engineering, education)
that are located in different places in India. Anna University mission is also bettering the
community around India. The benefits for having an online education is that it
economically helps India when it comes to jobs, productivity, and the consumers market
(Rams & Selvaraj, 2012).
History
Anna University was founded in 1978 is located in Tamil Nadu, India, however,
the main campus is located in Tamil Nadu, India. Anna University was named after the
former Chief Minster of Tamil Nadu, Annadurai (Wikipedia, 2015). Before Anna
University was formally founded in 1978, Anna University offered English classes for
people who wanted to learn in the 1950s.
Similar to Anna University, The University of Liverpool was first founded on a
campus in 1881 in Liverpool, England. The online program that the University of
Liverpool has was founded in the last decade (University of Liverpool, 2015). The
university also plays a revolutionary role because the University of Liverpool was one of
the first universities in Europe to offer online classes internationally (University of
Liverpool, 2015).
Values of the Institution
The University of Liverpools theme is Learning to make a difference. The
University of Liverpool value students who want to make a difference in the world. The
university wants to teach students so the students will graduate with knowledge and skills
to contribute to todays challenges (University of Liverpool, 2014). The university also

values students from other cultures and counties so working professionals can become
more diverse and open-minded. The University of Liverpool also values students with
personal skills. The author, Caroline Williams discusses that personal skill includes
managing oneself and managing others (Williams, 1997). The University of Liverpool
are aware of the current economic problems that the word is facing today, the university
wishes that the many online degree that are offered online will allow students to study,
work and to successfully finish the students degree goals.
Similar to the University of Liverpool, Anna University wants to offer students all
over India a proper education through technology. In contrast to the University of
Liverpool, Anna University does not offer classes all over the world, but only offers
education to the people in India. The main purpose for Anna University is to design and
develop new technologies for the world. Anna University also wants to teach the
students professional development and how to gain personal skills through distance
education (Anna University, 2014). Anna University also believes that offering classes
with real life scenarios will benefit the students and help with the students professional
development (Anna University, 2014).
Organization/System of Operation
Anna University is set up just like the University of Liverpool. Both schools have
an inquiry based learning curriculum. Each university uses a portal for the students who
receive a distance education. Both Anna University and the University of Liverpool main
communication are through email and/or the educational portal that each university has
provided for the students. Both universities also provide online learning materials for the
students to use in the classes.

The difference of operation between the Anna University and the University of
Liverpool is that Anna University mostly has students and teachers from India. The
University of Liverpool expresses how well diverse the school is. The University of
Liverpool promotes that their distance education curriculum can be accessed all over the
world for students. The University also discusses that the teachers are also from all over
the world (University of Liverpool, 2015).
Models of Teaching and Learning
Through distance education, Anna University wants to provide students with an
inquiry -based curriculum. The university encourages students to come up with the
students own question about a subject and try to find the answer and/or solution through
trail and error, and/or experiments. Professors will guide students through a class and/or
project, but the students are mostly doing all the work to answer his/her own question.
Anna University in India is mainly a university for engineering, technology, and
sciences. As stated above, Anna University likes to use hands-on experiences and real life
situations to teach the studies in India. Anna University has conducted many studies on
micro-paleontological studies. For example, some students and faculty members at Anna
University conducted a research study on the effects of an Indian Ocean tsunami. The
researcher found different environmental issues that may have caused tsunamis in the
Indian Ocean.
The University of Liverpool has a wide variety of classes for graduate and
doctorial level programs. The portal that the university uses allows students to log in
anytime to study and/or complete assignments. Similar to Anna University, the University
of Liverpool provides students with an inquiry-based curriculum where students learn

about the subject mostly through learning on the students own. The university also wants
students to learn the benefits of teamwork, real life experiences and to make a connection
between theory and real life (Cooper & Spencer-Dawe, 2006). The professor is there for
guidance and to provide learning and reading tools to the students. Both Universities also
value using a students personal knowledge and experience for each class.
Technologies Used
There are many technologies that the Anna University used for distance
education. Anna University states that the students use a wide variety of e-learning
teaching-aids in each class. The main portal for the students is online through the main
webpage for Anna University. Each student and professor is set up with his/her own
email account. That is the main communication between students and professor. Through
the main website, students may retrieve download, quizzes, examinations, and
assignments. Everything that the students needs for a class will be through the online
portal. Students would also need a laptop, computer, or any device (with internet) in order
to complete a course.
Conclusion
Even though The University of Liverpool and Anna University are located in
different parts of the world, both universities have many of the same values, and qualities.
Both universities believe that personal development, personal experiences, and personal
knowledge are important when completed classes. The two universities also follow an
inquiry-based curriculum, and organize classes so each student can learn in a hands-on
way. The difference between the universities is that, the University of Liverpool can be
accessed anywhere in the world. Teachers of the university are also from different areas

of the world. Anna University mostly reaches out to the people of India, and provides
many different classes, trainings, and professional developments.

References

Anna University. (2014). Centre for distance education-Anna University, Chennai-25.

Retrieved from: http://cde.annauniv.edu/Default.aspx
Cooper, H.E. (2206). Involving service users in interprofessional education narrowing the
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Jayappa, K.S. (2006). Impact assessment of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Current Science
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Ram, B.S.,Selvaraj, M.(2012). Impact of computer based online entrepreneurship
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Williams,C. (1997). Archival training at the University of Liverpool. Journal of the
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University of Liverpool. (2015). University of Liverpool-online programs. Retrieved
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Wikipedia.(2015). The University of Liverpool. Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Liverpool
Wikipedia. (2015). Anna University. Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_University