scholarly journals A Comparative Case Study

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Des Monk ◽  
Julie Hitchen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Institutional Practice ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Strategic Thought

This article is concerned with the provision of open and distance learning by the higher education sectors in two countries, the UK and Finland. The central contention is that more strategic thought must be given to this issue if the potential benefits of such learning are to be maximized. The article considers in detail institutional practice in one UK university and compares it to practice in a Finnish institution to ascertain whether procedures and practices adopted in Finland might inform policies in UK universities. By way of conclusion, it is suggested that higher education institutions in both countries need to explore the importance of improved networking, develop better quality-assurance procedures and introduce changes in pedagogic practice.

Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-35
Author(s):  
Amir Manzoor
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Learning Institutions

Today, open and distance-learning universities are regarded as a groundbreaking option to expand access to higher education. Economies of scale supported by a large number of enrolments have fueled the growth of open and distance learning institutions (ODLIs) across the globe. At the same time, many have raised serious concerns about the quality of education provided by ODLIs. This chapter presents a comparative case analysis of quality assurance (QA) programs in distance education at two large open and distance learning universities in Pakistan. The study explored QA policies and their implementation in the context of management practices and structures and internal and external environmental factors.

scholarly journals Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Distance Education Programs in Vietnam: Rationale and Future Directions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Huu Cuong ◽  
Le My Phong
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
The World ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

Distance and online education are popular training modes in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and open education. Accreditation is one of the approaches that many countries across the world have implemented to assure the quality of higher education, including distance learning programs. This study investigates the rationale and future directions for quality assurance and accreditation of distance education programs in Vietnam. First, the paper presents concepts of distance education, and quality assurance and accreditation of distance education. Second, the research reviews experiences of implementing quality assurance and accreditation for distance education from several countries in the world. Next, the paper analyses the rationale for conducting accreditation of distance education programs in our country. Finally, the study proposes three groups of recommendations for the national quality assurance organization, accreditation agencies and higher education institutions to be able to implement the quality assurance and accreditation of distance education in Vietnam successfully. Keywords Quality assurance; Accreditation; Distance education; Online learning; Higher education References [1] UNESCO, Distance education in Asia and the Pacific: country papers, Volume III (Singapore - Vietnam), 2009. www.unesco.org/education/pdf/53-23c.pdf.[2] UNESCO, Open and distance learning: trends, policy and strategy considerations, 2002. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001284/128463e.pdf.[3] Owusu-Boampong, A. & Holmberg, C., Distance education in European higher education – the potential, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, International Council for Open and Distance Education and Study Portals B.V, 2015.[4] Australian University, Distance learning Australia, 2018. http://www.australianuniversities.com.au/distance-learning/.[5] Darojat, O., Nilson, M. & Kaufman, D., Quality assurance in Asian open and distance learning: policies and implementation, Journal of Learning for Development, Vol. 2, No. 2 (2015) 1. [6] Jung, I. & Latchem, C., Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e-learning: models, policies and research, Routledge, London, 2012.[7] Wang, Qi., Quality assurance - best practices for assessing online programs, International Journal on Elearning, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2006) 265. [8] Friedman, J., 10 facts about accreditation in online degree programs, U.S.News & World Report, February 9, 2017. https://www.usnews.com.[9] U.S. Department of Education., Accrediting agencies recognized for distance education and correspondence education, 2018. https://www2.ed.gov. [10] The Australasian Council on Open, Distance and e-learning (ACODE), Benchmarks for technology enhanced learning, ACODE, Canberra, 2014.[11] Bollaert, L., NVAO’s accreditation of online education in a nutshell, 2015. https://www.nvao.net.[12] Henderikx, P. & Ubachs, G., Quality assurance and accreditation of online and distance higher education, 2017. https://www.unic.ac.cy.[13] Stella A. & Gnanam, A., Quality assurance in distance education: The challenges to be addressed, Higher Education, Vol. 47, No. 2 (2004) 143.[14] Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA), Code of practices for open and distance learning, MQA, Kuala Lumpur, 2013.[15] COL, DEMP & UNESCO, Quality assurance toolkit for distance higher education institutions and programmes, COL, Vancouver, 2009.[16] Vietnamnet, Mở đào tạo từ xa sẽ không cần cấp phép, 2017. http://vietnamnet.vn. [17] Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Quality assurance of online learning: discussion paper, TEQSA, Melbourne, 2017. [18] Nhân dân Điện tử, Phát triển đào tạo từ xa đúng hướng, 2017. http://www.nhandan.com.vn.[19] Nguyễn Hữu Cương, Một số kết quả đạt được của kiểm định chất lượng giáo dục đại học Việt Nam và hướng triển khai trong tương lai, Tạp chí Quản lý giáo dục, Tập 9 Số 8 (2017) 7.[20] Cục QLCL - Bộ GD-ĐT, Danh sách các CSGD đại học; các trường cao đẳng, trung cấp sư phạm, đã hoàn thành báo cáo tự đánh giá, được kiểm định, 2018 (dữ liệu cập nhật đến ngày 31/8/2018).[21] Cục QLCL - Bộ GD-ĐT, Danh sách các chương trình đào tạo được đánh giá/công nhận, 2018 (dữ liệu cập nhật đến ngày 31/8/2018).

scholarly journals Green curriculum: Sustainable learning in higher education

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willa Petronella Louw
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Study Material ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

<p>The United Nations (UN) constituted 2005–2014 as the decade for educational sustainable development when bridges have to be built between academic institutions and their communities. In this article I will therefore do a literature search from 2005–2011 on what it means to be a sustainable university with a sustainable curriculum by looking at case studies from other higher education institutions in order to begin to give guidelines for such an endeavour in an open and distance learning (ODL) institution. Thereafter I will focus on recommendations on how to transform present study material into a green curriculum by using a qualification in Human Settlements as a case study.</p>

scholarly journals The THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING AND ITS QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM IN UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aminudin Zuhairi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Assurance System ◽  
Online Tutorials ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Iso 27001 ◽  
Operational Aspects

Universitas Terbuka (UT) telah befungsi sejak 1984 untuk memperluas kesempatan belajar bagi seluruh warga negara Indonesia dari berbagai lapisan guna menempuh pendidikan tinggi berkualitas. Makalah ini menyajikan aspek operasional pendidikan terbuka dan jarak jauh beserta sistem penjaminan kualitas UT. Deskripsi dan analisis tentang UT disampaikan dalam hal sistem pembelajaran, asesmen pembelajaran, dan sistem pendukung layanan operasional. Beragam layanan pendukung pembelajaran diberikan sesuai kebutuhan mahasiswa meliputi pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan tutorial online, pembelajaran jarak jauh blended dengan tutorial tatap muka dan online, pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan semua matakuliah didukung tutorial tatap muka, dan pembelajaran fully online. Sistem penjaminan kualitas UT meliputi pengembangan budaya kerja berkualitas sebagai tanggung jawab bersama, fokus pada pencegahan, dan pengembangan mekanisme asesmen kualitas secara internal dan eksternal. UT telah mengadopsi Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Quality Assurance Framework sejak tahun 2001. Asesmen dan review kualitas secara eksternal telah dilakukan melalui sertifikasi ISO 9001 dan ISO 27001, akreditasi Program Studi dan Institusi oleh Badan Akreditasi Nasional Perguruan Tinggi (BAN-PT), dan review kualitas oleh International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Arah ke depan UT sebagaimana dinyatakan oleh Menteri Riset, Teknologi, dan Pendidikan Tinggi 2014-2015 adalah tantangan UT sebagai pelopor cyber university di Indonesia serta menyediakan matakuliah online bagi mahasiswa dari perguruan tinggi di Indonesia lain agar memiliki pengalaman pembelajaran online. Universitas Terbuka (UT) has been functioning since 1984 to widen opportunities for the citizens of Indonesia from all geographical, social and economic backgrounds to have access to quality higher education. This paper presents the UT operational aspects of open and distance learning and its quality assurance system. The description and analysis of UT is presented in terms of teaching and learning system, assessment of student learning, and operational support system. The UT modes of learning support to students are provided based on the students’ needs to include distance learning with online tutorials, blended distance learning with face-to-face and online tutorials, distance learning with all courses supported by face-to-face tutorials, and fully online learning courses. Quality assurance is discussed in terms of the development of quality work culture as shared responsibility, focus on prevention, and the establishment of mechanism for internal and external assessment. UT has adopted the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Quality Assurance Framework since 2001. External quality assessment includes certification for ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, Study Program and Institution accreditations by the National Board of Higher Education Accreditation (BAN-PT), and quality reviews by the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Future directions of UT as stated by the former Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education was to be pioneer in cyber university and to provide online courses for students from other universities in Indonesia.

scholarly journals Quality Improvement, Quality Assurance, and Benchmarking: Comparing two frameworks for managing quality processes in open and distance learning

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair Inglis
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Quality Framework ◽  
Institutional Contexts ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Similarities And Differences

<P>Managing quality processes become critically important for higher education institutions generally, but especially for institutions involved in open and distance learning. In Australia, managers of centers responsible for open and distance learning have identified two frameworks that potentially offer ways of conceiving of the application of quality processes: the Quality Framework published in Inglis, Ling, and Joosten (1999); and the Benchmarking Framework published in McKinnon, Walker, and Davis (2000). However, managers who have been considering applying one or other framework within their institutional contexts have had to face the issue of how they should choose between, or combine the use, of these frameworks. Part of their dilemma lies in distinguishing among the related functions of quality improvement, quality assurance, and benchmarking. This article compares the frameworks in terms of their scope, institutional application, structures, and method of application, and then considers what implications the similarities and differences between the frameworks have for their use.</P>

scholarly journals A Neo-Institutionalist Approach to Understanding Drivers of Quality Assurance in ODL

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asha Kanwar ◽  
Romeela Mohee ◽  
Alexis Carr ◽  
Kayla Ortlieb ◽  
Kaviraj Sukon
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Open University ◽  
Drivers Of Change ◽  
Endogenous Factors ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Culture Of Quality

In recent years, quality assurance (QA) in higher education has received increasing attention by academics, learners, institutions, and governments alike. Many open universities (OUs) have taken steps to re-define or re-orient their systems and practices to integrate quality. While there is a growing body of literature on QA best practices, there has been little investigation into the factors that influence institutions to improve or adopt QA and how these factors impact on the specific manifestations of institutional QA. This paper examines the challenges of QA implementation in OUs and, using a neo-institutionalist lens, it advances a framework for understanding drivers of institutional QA implementation. The framework is applied to the case of the Open University of Mauritius (OUM). Existing literature, institutional records, interviews and reports are analysed to assess how exogenous and endogenous factors have influenced QA implementation at OUM, with a focus on addressing the specificities of open and distance learning (ODL). A better understanding of the drivers of change for QA can help OUs plan the implementation of QA mechanisms in a more comprehensive way and to systematically develop a culture of quality that responds to the ideological and practical context of ODL.

Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning

2018 ◽  
pp. 195-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Manzoor
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Case Analysis ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Learning Institutions

Today, open and distance-learning universities are regarded as a groundbreaking option to expand access to higher education. Economies of scale supported by a large number of enrolments have fueled the growth of open and distance learning institutions (ODLIs) across the globe. At the same time, many have raised serious concerns about the quality of education provided by ODLIs. This chapter presents a comparative case analysis of quality assurance (QA) programs in distance education at two large open and distance learning universities in Pakistan. The study explored QA policies and their implementation in the context of management practices and structures and internal and external environmental factors.

scholarly journals Do entrepreneurial knowledge and innovative attitude overcome “imperfections” in the innovation process? Insights from SMEs in the UK and Italy

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1637-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Usai ◽  
Veronica Scuotto ◽  
Alan Murray ◽  
Fabio Fiano ◽  
Luca Dezi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Asymmetric Information ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Knowledge ◽  
The Uk

PurposeEntrepreneurial knowledge spurs innovation and, in turn, generates a competitive advantage. This paper aims to explore if entrepreneurial knowledge combined with the attitude to innovate can overcome the key “imperfections” of the innovation process generated by dynamic, current technological progress in the knowledge-intensive sector. The “imperfections” identified in risk management, asymmetric information in the knowledge management process and hold-up problems can all disrupt collaborative partnerships and limit opportunities for innovation.Design/methodology/approachA theory-building approach is applied which offers a case study analysis of two small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These two SMEs operate in Europe but in two different territories: the UK and Italy. The study explores three key imperfections, risk management, asymmetric information in the knowledge management process and hold-up problems, which occur in the innovation process.FindingsThe entrepreneurs face these imperfections by adopting an open innovation model. Notwithstanding, both entrepreneurs had to deal with all “imperfections”, and their skills, attributes, attitude and aptitude allowed them to grow their business and continually develop new products. Therefore, the imperfections do not limit the innovative capacity of an entrepreneur but rather enhance their challengeable attitude. In this regard, the case studies induce a further analysis on entrepreneurial knowledge intertwined with entrepreneurial risk management and networking skills.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical significance of the two cases does not allow theorisation. However, this research offers interesting results which can be strengthened by a comparative case study with other countries or deeper investigation by applying a quantitative approach.Originality/valueBy leveraging entrepreneurial knowledge, the imperfections noted in the innovation process can be overcome. Entrepreneurial knowledge is recognised as the main asset of an enterprise if it is combined with external talent or human resources. Entrepreneurs aim to develop innovative approaches and ideas through establishing both formal and informal collaborative partnership relationships which are used thanks to the entrepreneurs’ networking skills, knowledge and abilities.

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