===Introduction===
Quality assurance refers to a set of practices which have been introduced into public sector provision, especially in the higher education sector, as part of the changes brought by the expansion of postsecondary provision of education (Panda, 2003, p. 219). With fast emerging technology and broader access, quality assurance has became central topic in distance education both in academic content and student support (Ross, Batzer and Bennington, 2002) (Klass, 2000). The quality of the distance education needs to focus especially on the attitude, competencies and achievements of distance learners.
Based on the Distance Education and Training Council’s (DETC) collective experiences in evaluating distance education institutions over many years and involving many hundreds of institutions, assured points of reference of quality in student services have became apparent (Ross, Batzer, and Bennington, 2002, p.50). Following are the key aspects of learner-oriented quality distance education.
• Course materials are attractively packaged and are easy for students to use.
• Materials are shipped promptly so that students would be able to deal with tasks in advance.
• Students always have an adequate supply of materials to study at all times.
• Faulty course texts or kits are replaced promptly and without question.
• Assignments and exams are graded promptly.
• Assignments have motivating, personalised comments, important notations and other indication of personal attention.
• Students who ask questions or have problems should feel they have received personal, quick attention.
• Students should feel their school cares about them - warm letters of motivation, frequent school-generated contacts (e.g. newsletters) can make students feel they belong to an educational institution which cares about them.
• Everything the school provides the student, from texts to motivation letters should reflect high quality, competence, taste and an obvious commitment to service.
===Criteria for global entities===
The expanding globalisation of distance education, particularly at the college level, has heightened consciousness in academic communities of the importance of guaranteeing quality (Sherry, 2003, p.444). Sherry (2003) states that global efforts to provide quality-based distance learning revolve around quality standards. Quality standards can simultaneously guide efficient evaluations of student-centered distributed learning “while supporting unique initiatives for students and local practice across nation�? (Sherry, 2003, p.444). Global Alliance for Transnational Education (GATE) is one organization that offers ten categories of written guidelines intended to provide structure for practice and certification purposes (Barker, 1999). Each principle was established to assists international experts in determining quality for distance education, in addition to deal with problems of quality in higher education and corporate training delivered from nation to nation (Barker, 1999).
1. Goals and objectives.
2. Standards.
3. Legal and ethical matters.
4. Student admissions and enrollment.
5. Human resources.
6. Physical and financial resources.
7. Teaching and learning.
8. Student support.
9. Evaluation.
10. Third Parties.
However, it may be almost impossible to set a specific quality assurance strategy that can universally be adopted. This is because the distance education object, the background of the students institutions serves, the extent and levels of programs offered, the purpose and scope of distance education outfit may vary widely from institution to institution and from one country to another (Panda, 2003, p.209).
===Further Information===
See Also:
• Distance Education
• Distance Education - Models
• Distance Education - Students perspective
• Distance Education - Australia
• Distance Education - Students with Special Needs
===Reference===
Barker, K: Quality Guidelines for Technology (1999) “Assisted Distance Education,�? retrieved October 25, 2005, from http://www.futured.com/pdf/distance.pdf
Klass, G: peer reviewed journal on the Internet (2000) “Status and Quality Threats of Internet education,�? retrieved October 20, 2005 from http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue5_7/klass/
Panda, S. (2003) Planning and Management in Distance Education. London: Kogan Page. ISBN 0749440376
Ross, R. K., Batzer, L., and Bennington, E. (2002) “Quality assurance for distance education: A faculty peer review process,�? Tech Trends vol.46, no.5, pp. 48-54.
Sherry, C.A. (2003) “Quality and Its Measurement in Distance Education�?, in M.G. Moore, and W.G. Anderson (ed.) Handbook of Distance Education, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp.435-459. ISBN 0805839240
===Contributors to this entry include:===
Rie Comaroff 22:18, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
