Quality Assurance And Accreditation In Distance Education And E-learning: Models, Policies And Research (open And Flexible Learning Series)

Quality assurance (QA) in open and distance learning (ODL) can be a contentious issue. Some argue that it should be judged by the same criteria and methods as face-to-face education, while others claim that it is so different in its organization, enrolments and operations that conventional QA mechanisms cannot apply. Some advocate the use of specific guidelines and standards for e-learning; others believe that, regardless of the technology, the basic principles of quality teaching and learning should apply. Providers who have enjoyed freedom from external scrutiny may resist attempts at external regulation and auditing and look upon QA as yet another imposition of corporatization and bureaucracy on education. Others see it as a means of establishing a culture of quality, self-reflection and self-improvement. There is little research-based literature to guide policy-makers, managers and practitioners in applying QA in education and training to ensure the right balance is found between accountability and autonomy, as well as assuring quality for the time and costs involved. In this respect, Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is a book that is long overdue. It explains what is involved in QA and accreditation in education. It describes and analyzes applications of these practices in open, distance, dual-mode and conventional universities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, looking at open schooling, e-learning in conventional schools, non-formal adult and community education, and corporate and small-to-medium enterprises. Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is edited and authored by experts with extensive international experience in ODL, e-learning and QA who give careful consideration to the possibilities and challenges involved. The book will be an invaluable guide for all policy-makers, managers, practitioners and researchers in the field. "Drawing on the knowledge and experience of leading managers, practitioners and researchers, research and case studies, this book provides a unique and comprehensive analysis of Quality Assurance (QA) concepts, approaches, models, issues, practices and research in ODL and ICT worldwide. The book is global in scope and covers both the developed and developing world. It considers the theory, research and practice of policy-making and implementation in QA and accreditation, and also the institutional and cultural acceptability of QA as well as the areas regarded as problematic. With the growth of cross-border education, institutions must provide evidence of the quality of their courses, teaching, learning and management systems for national and international accreditation. This exposes them to rigorous external review and requires their conformity with national and international regulatory environments and benchmarks. It also increases their awareness of, and responsiveness to, national and global quality standards. This edited collection provides policy-makers, ODL researchers, and Higher Education administrators with an invaluable resource on QA and accreditation models and policies from around the World"-- Provided by publisher. "Quality assurance (QA) in online and distance learning (ODL) is a contentious issue. Some argue that the same standards from face-to-face education should apply, while others say that ODL demands its own specific guidelines and standards. Some providers may look upon QA as an imposition of corporatization and bureaucracy, while others see it as a means of establishing a culture of quality. With the growth of cross-border education, institutions must provide evidence of the worth of their services in order to be accredited. This exposes them to rigorous external review and requires conformity with national and international regulatory environments and benchmarks. Until now, however, there has been a lack of research-based literature to guide those looking to better understand the implementation of QA in ODL. Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and E-learning explains what is involved in QA and accreditation in education in open, distance, dual-mode, and conventional universities in both the developed and the developing world. The book is edited and authored by experts with extensive international experience in ODL, e-learning, and QA who give careful consideration to the possibilities and challenges involved. Providing unique analysis of the concepts, approaches, models, issues, practices, theory and research, this book is an invaluable guide for all policy-makers, managers, practitioners, and researchers in the field"-- Provided by publisher. Contents List of Tables and Figures Foreword Preface Acknowledgements 1 Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education • Denise Chalmers and Shannon Johnston 2 Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Open and Distance Learning • Colin Latchem and Insung Jung 3 International and Regional Quality Assurance and Accreditation • Colin Latchem and Anuwar Ali 4 Quality Assurance in Asian Open and Distance Learning • Insung Jung 5 Quality Assurance for Distance Education in Sub-Saharan Africa • Sarah Hoosen and Neil Butcher 6 Quality Assurance and Accreditation in the United States and Canada • Nancy K. Parker 7 Quality Assurance and Accreditation for Distance Education in the United Kingdom • Denise Kirkpatrick 8 Quality Assurance Policies and Guidelines in European Distance and e-Learning • Ulf-Daniel Ehlers 9 Quality Assurance Policies and Guidelines for Distance Education in Australia and New Zealand • Yoni Ryan and Mark Brown 10 Quality Assurance in Open Universities 102Asha Kanwar and Kate Clarke 11 Quality Assurance in a Mega-University: Universitas Terbuka • Tian Belawati, Aminudin Zuhairi and I.G.A.K. Wardani 12 Quality Assurance in a Consortium: Open Universities Australia • Teresa De Fazio, John Ketonen and Michael Crock 13 Quality Assurance in Regional Dual-Mode Universities: The University of the South Pacific and The University of the West Indies • Rajesh Chandra, Dianne Thurab-Nkhosi and Stewart Marshall 14 Conducting an External Institutional Quality Review: The Palestinian Al-Quds Open University • Kathleen Matheos 15 Lowering the Cost and Increasing the Effectiveness of Quality Assurance: COL RIM • Geoff Plimmer, Willie Clarke-Okah, Caroline Donovan and Winsome Russell 16 Quality Assurance in Open Schooling: National Institute of Open Schooling, India, and Open Junior Secondary School, Indonesia • Sanjaya Mishra, Sitanshu S. Jena and Arief S. Sadiman 17 Assuring Quality in School Digital Ecosystems • Michael Gaffney 18 So Few Lessons Learned? Quality Assurance in the Global Telecentre Movement • Richard Fuchs 19 Quality Assurance in e-Learning for European Small-to-Medium Enterprises • Torstein Rekkedal 20 Quality Assurance for e-Learning in the South Korean Corporate Sector • Cheolil Lim 21 Competencies and Quality Assurance in Distance and e-Learning • Insung Jung and Colin Latchem 22 Learners’ Perceptions and Opinions of Quality Assurance • Insung Jung 23 Concluding Remarks: Quality Matters • Insung Jung and Colin Latchem List of Contributors Index