Abstract
PurposeQuality assurance (QA) in open and distance learning (ODL) has always become universal concerns of stakeholders. The quality of ODL has been confronted with challenges in terms of the diversity of inputs, processes, the complex supply chain management of ODL and recent paradigm shift into online learning. Assuring the quality of ODL are daunting tasks at individual, institution and system levels. Completed before the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, this study aims to better understand the implementation of QA system in three Asian open universities (OUs), namely University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative method was employed involving analysis of documents of the three Asian OUs and focus group discussions and interviews with management and staff. Data collected were then analyzed to draw conclusions and possible recommendations.FindingsFindings of this study presented good practices, challenges and rooms for improvement of the QA system in the three Asian OUs. Focusing on students and stakeholders in their QA effort, this study has revealed that quality begins with inner self and is multidimensional. QA is principally viewed as continuous improvement, as mechanism and assessment and as effort at exceeding expectations of students and stakeholders. The recent challenge for QA is to embrace a delicate process of ODL transformation into online digital system. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has further implications and challenged QA implementation in ODL in higher education into the next level of complexity.Practical implicationsThis study revealed the diversities in how OUs met the societal needs of their respective stakeholders and addressed the challenges ahead for QA in ODL.Originality/valueThese findings were expected to enhance the understanding of the theory and practice of QA in ODL and to contribute to quality improvement of ODL programs.
Highlights
Quality has been a major importance for higher education (Inglis, 2005), and the provision of quality higher education is a major challenge to address by open universities (OUs) and open and distance learning (ODL) institutions
Each open university has been designed to serve their respective national clients, ODL system has allowed the citizens of the respective countries living globally to have access to their ODL programs online
The three Asian OUs have their own achievements worth respecting.quality assurance (QA) implementation has been a dedicated effort in the three Asian OUs, with seriousness of purpose, careful supervision, audits and involving management and staff to invest significant resources for the effort
Summary
Quality has been a major importance for higher education (Inglis, 2005), and the provision of quality higher education is a major challenge to address by open universities (OUs) and open and distance learning (ODL) institutions. This study attempts to better understand the implementation of quality assurance (QA) system in three Asian OUs, namely University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Philippines; Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Pakistan. As new QA methods emerge and ODL systems evolve, OUs adapt to new ways of assuring quality to meet the expectations of students and the stakeholders. This research aims to reveal QA implementation in the three OUs in terms practices, challenges and rooms for improvement and learning lessons that may be relevant to the OUs and relevant ODL systems. This study was conducted prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, and a section on the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on ODL directions has been added
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