Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning

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.

Insung Jung is Professor of Education, Media and Society at the International Christian University in Tokyo. Colin Latchem is an Australian researcher, writer and consultant in open and distance learning.

Foreword, Sir John Daniel Preface, Insung Jung and Colin Latchem 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, Asha 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, Alison Schmidt, 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