The field of Open and Distance Learning is rapidly growing. It is a democratising force which has been able to reach out with opportunities for higher education to a very large number of students. The innate scope for flexibility and the potential to integrate technology into the pedagogic process and support services, further highlights the beauty and uniqueness of the ODL system.

The field of Open and Distance Learning (ODL), in its approaches and in practice, has drawn inspiration from a number of disciplines, such as Education, Psychology, Sociology, Technical studies and so on. Open and Distance Learning is interdisciplinary. There are a number of concepts in disciplines such as Economics, International Relations, Management, Law, Sociology, Engineering, Management etc. which have provided new perspectives to the theory and practice of Open and Distance Learning. An inter-disciplinary approach to Open and Distance Learning could serve to further enrich this already dynamic field of learning. The inspiration drawn from inter-disciplinary concepts have given new dimension and energy to ODL. The book is the first volume in the series which explores the dynamism incorporated by various terminologies from other disciplines to the still growing area of ODL.