About the Association and distance learning
Distance learning, or home study, first began as soon as there was a reliable postal service.
The Penny Post began as early as the seventeenth century, but really took off with the invention of gummed stamps, the famous Penny Black, in 1840.
The introduction of the Board Schools in 1870 meant that every child the country received at least an elementary education. For the first time in history the whole population was literate, and the demand for further education grew rapidly.
Postal tuition was perhaps at its most flourishing during and just after the Second World War, when government approached the existing Correspondence Colleges with a view to providing Correspondence Courses for members of the forces.
The colleges involved in this scheme kept in touch with each other by means of an informal committee, and in 1955 decided to form an Association. Its aims, then as now, were to safeguard the interests of students learning at home by ensuring high standards, and to provide services and a forum for discussion among its members
Modern distance learning has come a very long way from those early beginnings. With the advent of the Internet and email, students are able to keep in touch with their Colleges, their tutors and their fellow students; the resources available are immense and learning has never been so flexible.
ABCC Membership
Joining the Association
We welcome membership enquires from Providers of Home Study/ Distance Learning programmes, based in the UK or working with students in this country. To be eligible for membership providers must satisfy the Association that their courses are suitable for students in the UK and that they themselves are of good standing with a proven track record.
Code of Ethics
All member colleges must agree to comply with the Association’s Code of Ethics. This guarantees a high standard of service and integrity on the part of all Colleges. The Association's logo on your prospectus gives potential students an assurance of quality and fair dealing. In the event of queries or complaints the Association can provide a useful arbitration service.
Publicity
The Association’s website includes a page for each Member College, lists of available courses and their providers, and links to members’ own websites. Additionally, posters are distributed annually to hundreds of public libraries, educational and careers advisory services, Citizens Advice Bureaux, British Council offices, armed forces and HM Prison Services advisory centres and other outlets. As enquiries are received from prospective students they are automatically forwarded to those Colleges offering the courses required.
Should your College join us, your details will be put on the website immediately. You should start to receive enquiries straight away, directly from students who have seen our publicity material, and from us as we pass on enquiries received. You should also see an increase in traffic on your website.
Public Relations
We issue press releases on topics of interest and maintain contacts with the education correspondents of national and local newspapers, occasionally placing advertisements in the press as appropriate. We respond to issues raised in the media, and generally seek to raise the profile of correspondence education and keep it in the public eye.
Communication
The Association provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on distance learning. We have an annual meeting in London, and all Members are welcome to attend the regular Council meetings. Members can also seek advice by telephone or email.
Costs
The cost of membership of our Association varies according to the size of the college and its fee income.
Membership runs from 1 February to 31 January each year.
For further details please contact us:
Annual General Meeting 2010
We look forward to seeing representatives of all our Member Colleges at the Annual General Meeting of this Association to be held at The New Cavendish Club, 44 Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 8BS on Wednesday 17 March 2010. This year's speaker, Rodney Fernandes of OFQAL, will talk to us about the Qualification and Credit Framework.
We will meet for coffee at 11.00 a.m. and the meeting will begin at 11.30 a.m. Lunch will be served at approximately 1.30 p.m.
If you have not already booked your place, please contact the Secretary without delay.
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