Partnership-Based Outreach, Institutional Trust, and Student Enrolment in Open and Distance Learning: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study systematically reviews the relationship between partnership-based outreach, institutional trust, and student enrolment in open and distance learning (ODL). A systematic literature review was conducted on 25 peer-reviewed studies published between 2021 and 2026. The selected studies were identified through Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis Online, Sage Journals, and Google Scholar, and were synthesised descriptively and narratively. The findings identified four major forms of outreach: digital and social media outreach, institutional and international partnerships, trust- and reputation-based communication, and school–university widening-participation programmes. Partnership-based outreach contributed to institutional visibility, information accessibility, student aspirations, and enrolment-related decisions. Its effectiveness depended on transparent communication, responsiveness, local relevance, authentic testimonials, and sustained interaction with prospective students. Institutional trust emerged as a plausible mechanism linking outreach with enrolment because it reduced uncertainty and strengthened perceptions of institutional competence, integrity, and reliability. However, none of the reviewed studies directly tested the complete mediating relationship between partnership-based outreach, institutional trust, and student enrolment within a single ODL model. The review concludes that institutional trust is theoretically supported as an intervening mechanism, but further empirical verification is required. ODL institutions should integrate sustainable partnerships with credible, student-centred communication and evaluate outreach using actual applications, registrations, and enrolment outcomes.