GROWTH CATALYSTS: UNVEILING THE INCREASE IN DISTANCE EDUCATION ENROLLMENTS

Abstract

The present study aims to identify factors in the literature that drove the increase in enrollment in Distance Education (DE) courses. The methodology adopted was the Systematic Review through Methodi Ordinatio from 2017 to 2023. The searches were conducted in August 2023 in the databases: Web of Science, Scopus and Scielo, with the descriptors "distance learning" AND "higher education " AND ("Growth" OR "Widening" OR "Expansion"). Initially, 71 articles were listed (Scielo, n=11; Scopus, n=29; Web of Science, n=31). Of these, 18 articles were selected to compose the document corpus. Each article was evaluated for relevance, methodological quality, and contribution to the topic. We used strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on studies that presented precise empirical analyses on the growth of DE. The data from the selected articles were synthesized to identify common patterns and trends, allowing a deeper understanding of the factors driving the increase in DE enrollments. The study's findings indicate that the rise in Distance Education course enrollments is mainly influenced by four factors: 1) Easy access to higher education, available in various locations; 2) Flexibility to balance work and studies, optimizing students' time; 3) Lower course costs, making higher education more accessible; 4) Public policies encouraging DE. These factors contribute to the growing popularity and consolidation of Distance as an expanding educational modality. Therefore, it is concluded that DE represents a strong teaching trend, with expectations of continuous growth and consolidation, adapting to the needs of an increasingly connected population in search of flexibility and educational accessibility.