Invățământul la distanță: de la corespondența la E-learning - o revoluție a accesului la cunoaștere

Abstract

Distance learning is not just an alternative method, but a necessity in the knowledge society. It enables life-long learning, adapting to the demands of the education consumer. The future tends towards hybrid models that leverage digital flexibility while retaining the human interaction essential for motivation and holistic development. In Romania, distance learning is regulated, with a clear differentiation, especially at the university level, between ID (Învățământ la Distanță - Distance Learning) and FR (Frecvență Redusă - Reduced Attendance), both trying to meet the need for continuing education for working adults. The necessity for digitalization, exacerbated by the pandemic, forced both the pre-university and university systems to rapidly adopt e-learning platforms. Although there were major challenges related to internet access and equipment, the experience highlighted that ID, if properly designed and adhering to strict pedagogical quality criteria, can be just as efficient as traditional forms of education. Through a quantitative methodological approach, the present paper aims to identify and interpret the structural and numerical changes in the student population of the University of Oradea between the academic years 2017/2018 and 2025/2026, with the goal of providing a fundamental database for the future strategic planning of the educational offer and the allocation of institutional resources. CZU: 657:[378.018.43+004.771] (498); JEL: M421, M49