Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and...

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Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker

Transcript of Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and...

Page 1: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of

Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning

 

Nancy Parker

Page 2: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

The Proposition

No matter what approach is taken to

demonstrate or certify quality in higher

education ODL until institutions are

willing to be as transparent as their

campus based counterparts doubts will

remain and blended institutions will hold

a competitive advantage.

Athabasca University Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 3: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

The Challenge

Fraud

Poor Practice

Lack of common standards

Reputation

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 4: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Some Numbers

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 5: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Responses

Lists

Required reporting

Accreditation

Licensing

Quality Markers/Frameworks

Rankings

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 6: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Characteristics Examined

• First impressions (front page load time; base information access)

• Expectations (entrance requirements, fees, orientation information, sample materials)

• Assessment (student success & satisfaction/engagement measures)

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 7: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

The Test

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Institution Students Headcount

URL

Athabasca University (AU)

38,000 http://www.athabascau.ca/

Capella University (CPLA)

38,072 (June 2011)

http://www.capellaeducation.comhttp://www.capella.edu/ /

Deakin University (DU) 39,000 http://www.deakin.edu.au http://www.gooduniguide.com.au/

Open University (OUUK)

~250,000 http://www8.open.ac.uk/about/main/the-ou-explained/facts-and-figures

University of Maryland—University College (UMUC)

54,921 (Fall 2010)

http://www.umuc.edu/ http://www.umuc.edu/visitors/about/ipra/upload/UMUCFall10FactBook.pdf

University of South Africa (UNISA)

263,559 (2009 MoE)

http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.htmlhttp://www.unisa.ac.za/happening/docs/AnnualReport_2009.pdf

http://www.capellaeducation.com/
http://www8.open.ac.uk/about/main/the-ou-explained/facts-and-figures
http://www8.open.ac.uk/about/main/the-ou-explained/facts-and-figures
http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.html
Page 8: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Transparency Examples

• College Navigator

• Common University Data Sets

Athabasca University Athabasca University

Page 9: Accreditation, Benchmarks, and Competition: The ‘ABC’s’ of Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning Nancy Parker.

Athabasca University Athabasca University

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