摘要：Decreasing retention among new learners at high rates during their early semesters in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions is a phenomenon which concerns ODL operators the world over. In the past decade, there has been a proliferation in the number of higher learning institutions in Malaysia offering ODL-mode courses and programmes that has resulted in exponential growth in student enrolment, generally encompassing adult learners who want to pursue a higher degree for various reasons. As adult learners are completely a different breed of learners compared to traditional learners pursuing full-time courses in conventional universities, this research is to provide conclusive results, which are to be used to work towards successfully reducing their attrition at ODL institutions, and, in turn, increase their completion rates. This is a quantitative research with data collected through online questionnaire. The objective of this research is to identify various factors (both controllable and uncontrollable factors) responsible for learners’ attrition in the first few months of their studies in order to help increase their retention rate for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, which in turn will maximize university sustainability.
关键词：Higher Education; Open & Distance Learning; Adult Learners; Retention; Attrition
