<p>This article addresses the issue of access to quality postgraduate distance education. It was<br />developed within an argument that access to conventional face-to-face postgraduate studies is<br />still a challenge in developing countries. It argues that distance education can be used as an<br />alternative means of meeting the increasing demand for higher education in the country<br />concerned. This study used a case study of Masters of Arts in Rural Development (MARD)<br />program that is offered by Indira Ghandi National Open University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<br />Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used to gather the relevant data. The<br />study established that distance education has a huge potential as an alternative and<br />cost-effective means of providing quality higher education in Ethiopia. The study suggests that<br />careful planning and integration of distance education into the national higher education policy<br />will enable effective and efficient provision of quality distance postgraduate education in<br />developing countries like Ethiopia.</p>

This paper examines the role of quality higher education for sustainable growth and development for African countries including Ethiopia. In providing access to quality higher education in Africa, using the Ethiopian context as a case study. It draws on Higher Education for Sustainable Development (HEfSD) is being significantly shaped by the global sustainability agenda, and it further explores the potential of higher education program delivery system in an Ethiopian context. In addition, the study explores the policy of the conventional higher education. Two instruments were used to gather relevant data, namely: interviews and document analysis. Three quality indicators used, coherence, efficiency and impact of higher education, were used as tools of analysis.This article is divided into three sections which explore three key linked aspects of the importance of higher education.1) Higher education.2) Its access and Quality.3) Concept of the Sustainable development of African countries, including Ethiopia.The author of this article develops a powerful framework for quality higher education and its essentials for growth and development, and seek to apply this in to various developing countries for sustainable growth and development in a range of international settings. In so doing to make an important connection between theoretical frameworks of the above practical elements. Given the constraint of different segment of the development integration, the finding of this study highlighted the importance of higher education in developing countries including Ethiopia, for fulfilling’s sustainable development agenda of the country.

This paper examines the role of cross-border distance education institutions in providing access to quality postgraduate education in Ethiopia, using the South Africa University (UNISA) as a case study. It draws on the appropriate school leadership for the development of distance education, and it further explores the potential of a distance education program delivery system in an Ethiopian context. In addition, the study explores the policy gap between conventional and distance education in relation to international postgraduate distance education. Two instruments were used to gather relevant data, namely: interviews and document analysis. Theoretical framework developed through three key elements: access, cost and quality were used as tools of analysis.

This paper examines the role of cross-border distance education institutions in providing access