Secondly, the development of competence in the fieds of advice and student support for degree seeking distance students at the Centre for Distance Education and its university environment in Oldenburg has led to remarkable developments and spin-offs since the early 80's. These include the application of experience to local distance teaching projects. The Centre's own evaluation studies have included surveys on the impact of the distance between the students and their study centre. The study on the impact of geography confirmed, for instance, the importance of tutorials on Saturdays and at weekends, as well as educational sessions lasting an entire week. It led to steps to regional decentralisation of advice and student support.
Faculty thus rethink their teaching methods and concepts about higher education.
Distance students take additional advantage of various kinds of services at the University of Oldenburg such as the computer lab and the library. They integrate themselves into the courses of the University of Oldenburg. Some also apply as associate students. At an even more advanced level of integration, as degree-seeking students of both universities they may combine the two modes in succession according to preference. They may first study at a distance and then apply at the conventional university or vice versa.