Abstract:
Distance education is an effective system of education as it allows students to
make their own learning decision with greater flexibility while removing barriers for
education. However, despite its effectiveness the system has been suffering from critical
and inherited issues as higher student dropout rate and lower academic excellence of
students. Even though previous studies emphasize on services offered by distant
education institutes as solutions, students have a significant role to playas selfresponsibility
towards academic matters is crucial in the context. Therefore, this paper
investigates the impact of core services and peripheral services offered by distance
education institutes on student involvement in distance education in Sri Lanka. For this
purpose, quantitative research approach based on cross-sectional survey design was
adapted. Sample consisted of 400 undergraduates of the Open University of Sri Lanka,
drawn using simple random sampling technique and data were collected using a
structured questionnaire. Data which were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling
revealed that there is a positive significant impact of peripheral services on student
involvement. Since the primary focus of this paper, service package in distance education
context, which has not been concerned before, theoretically it provides a novel
contribution. Essentially, findings are important for the management of distance
education institutes in designing and redesigning their service offering. Well-designed
services can improve student performance and lower thei dropout via student
involvement and ultimately result in effective distance education system which contribute
to improve the literacy of the nation as a whole.
