Interference of technology in higher education: increasing importance of distance education in the dissemination of knowledge

This article aims to analyse the importance of Distance Learning (DL) to meet the demands of higher education in Brazil, especially taking into consideration the need of instruction in higher education in the country. Driven by the dissemination of the media, distance education emerged as an alternative to the democratization of access to knowledge and to provide greater economic and social development. Given this importance, several policies have been implemented and also legal support has been given for its diffusion in Brazil. The methods used were based on the analysis and description of the elements that make up DL and supported the understanding that DL hos become a regular mode of teaching, and it hos significantly contributed to meet the demand for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Brazil and the world, demonstrating its ability to meet the current expectations of society.