Many British Universities are establishing joint academic programmes with foreign partners. In some cases, delivery is by distance learning mode. Studies comparing distance learning to face-to-face learning are many, but are generally contextualised within a single academic culture and little reference is given to differences in academic culture between deliverers and receivers where they are continents apart. This paper aims to shed some light on the issue by providing insight into the implications of differences between Chinese and UK academic culture for distance learning. The paper is based on a pedagogic research project, a case study, and is centred on a distance learning course in maritime law proposed by a British university for a university in China. Some important commonalities and gaps between perceptions of deliverers and receivers of the proposed course were identified that are specifically attributable to issues of culture. These cannot be dismissed as trivial and unimportant. Therefore, based on the data from two focus groups, Chinese students and UK academics, the authors include recommendations about how one might enhance the effectiveness of distance learning where such cultural issues exist.
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