Quality and Quality Assurance in Open Distance Learning (ODL) Discourse: Trends, Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract

Quality assurance in higher education is a global concern. With the increasing acceptance of Open Distance Learning (ODL) as widening access to higher education in the developed and developing countries, research suggests that it has become increasingly crucial that quality assurance process is developed and maintained if the ODL provision is to be relevant and more functional that the products recognized the conventional higher education in emerging open learning environment. Accordingly, this article does not only seek to contribute to the global discourse in the promotion of quality assurance, it explores trends, challenges and perspectives in quality assurance in ODL. Drawing from Moscovici's social representations theory and Schon's reflective practice, we argue quality assurance as an ideology and a reflective practice.