My friend Jennifer Maddrell (of EdTechTalk fame) has completed a systems analysis of Athabasca University. She posted the report to Scribd and it can be downloaded or read, but I think you have to join scribd (which is likely a useful activity in any case). I assume the report was done as coursework in her Old Dominion University PhD program in Instructional Design and Technology
The report gives a detailed overview of Athabasca – mostly derived from the web site and official reports. It is an outsider’s view, quite comprehensive and well written. It will be useful for distance educators as a comparison model and for potential students or employees to garner an overview of the business of Canada’s Open University.
Thanks Jennifer for both doing the work and publically posting it.