Assuring Institutional Quality in Open Distance Learning (ODL) in the Developing Contexts

Assuring Institutional Quality in Open Distance Learning (ODL) in the Developing Contexts Synopsis

Quality assurance and its management are common practices in higher education. However, they have only recently become a major concern in open and distance learning (ODL), especially in developing contexts. South Africa has identified ODL as a strategic avenue for expanding access to higher education, and has recently transformed a policy on ODL practices. However, having a policy will not necessarily assure quality unless practices on the ground are aligned with such a policy. The ODL mode of delivery in developing contexts needs to consciously build quality into its management and practices. While internationally there have been attempts to address quality management issues through journal articles and books, generally the literature in this area remains scanty with respect to ODL. This is especially the case in terms of closing the gap between policy propositions and implementation. Assuring Institutional Quality in Open Distance Learning (ODL) in the Developing Contexts seeks to bridge this gap between policy propositions and implementation of ODL in developing contexts, with a focus on South Africa.