Investigating University Students’ OpinionsIn Relation To Open University Students

The aim of this study is to investigate university students’ opinions in relation to Open University students. The subjects (n=69) of this study were students of Abant Izzet Baysal University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, in Bolu-Turkey. The data concerning the university students’ opinions in relation to Open University students were collected through interviews held by the researcher during the spring semester of 2005-2006 academic years. The results of this study indicated that they believed Open University to be a good opportunity for people who work and who have no chance to receive university education, they believed there to be no difference between them and the Open University students and graduates in terms of the subject knowledge as they took mostly the same courses during instruction. On the other hand, they added that it was not possible to acquire the professional knowledge, skills and behaviors given by Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. In addition to this, they believed that although there was no difference between themselves and Open University graduates in the public sector where job opportunities are concerned, they added that they would prefer Open University graduates if they were employers.

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