QA in ODL

Assuring Quality in Open and Distance Learning System

A guideline is needed to respond to the need for enhanced understanding on the concept of ODL, its roles and functions, and its quality assurance concerns, especially in higher education setting. In particular, this guideline addresses stakeholders in ODL community in Southeast Asian, i.e., governments of Southeast Asian countries, donor agencies, higher education providers, and public at large. The guideline covers general elaboration on the development of open and distance learning in higher education in Southeast Asia, quality assurance in open and distance learning, and indicators, process, and practices of quality assurance in open and distance learning in Southeast Asia.

The presentation focuses on the quality assurance indicators in ODL, includes principles, providers, program, resources, and recipient. It is expected that this chapter will provide a common or general set of indicators of ODL as a frame of thought for those thinking, initiating, designing, implementing, and evaluating ODL system. The sixth chapter discusses the process of quality assurance in ODL. Derived from the industrial model, the quality assurance process in ODL poses distinctive methods as to internally as well as externally driven, at different time and for different purposes, i.e., formative and summative evaluation.

Furthermore, the presentation describes the institutional framework in which the quality assurance is being implemented, the organizational structures of the quality assurance effort, and the institutional policy and regulation regarding the quality assurance in particular institution.

It is expected that the elaboration provided in this guideline will give a framework for quality assurance in many ODL institutions. It will further provide an adequate elaboration on many aspects to consider in assuring the quality of ODL. Thus provides a clearer picture of ODL and the assurance of its quality for stakeholders and many interested parties.

This guideline can be expanded and elaborated further by any country or institution based on needs to control, develop, and assure quality in ODL practices. Within the framework of SEAMOLEC's mission to assist Southeast Asian countries in providing services for effective use of open and distance learning, the guideline provides a common perspective among Southeast Asian countries for the purpose of assessing, designing, developing, implementing, evaluating, and researching ODL, as well as assuring quality in the practices of ODL. This guideline will be disseminated by SEAMOLEC to the eleven SEAMEO member countries for the purpose of guiding the implementation of QA in ODL for any member country.