Accreditation and quality assurance of e-learning based distance learning institution

Abstract

In an effort to regulate and assure quality of e- learning based distance learning courses in Malta and Gozo, the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) has commissioned this report to perform two specific tasks:: 1. To provide information about the status of current practice, procedures and protocols in a number of countries, to investigate how they effectively and efficiently accredit and audit/quality control their e- learning based distance learning courses in their country; 2. To make recommendations and propose tools for the necessary procedures and protocols to be implemented by the NCFHE so as to be able to effectively and efficiently accredit and audit e-learning based distance learning courses in Malta and Gozo. The NCFHE is committed to assure the quality of locally registered further and higher education institutions that offer e-learning based distance learning courses. Such practice is already well established within numerous European countries, as well as major developed countries around the world. This report recommends a benchmark of minimum acceptable policy and practice for the NCFHE as it evaluates an institution as part of the accrediting program. The standards proposed are categorised according to topic, and essentially state that a further and higher education institution is required to: • Clearly define and state its mission, goal, and objectives; • Present proof of qualified academic and administrative staff employed; • Provide services that are academically acceptable; • Demonstrate that necessary physical resources are in place; • Student support services are in place and adequate; • Offer clear and fair refund policies to protect the student; • Hold impartial admission policies with clear enrollment agreements. Each e-learning based program that an accredited institution offers will also be required to go through a program accreditation process. To such ends the NCFHE has secured the services of a European foundation for quality in e-learning to train its staff as well as, staff from local private further and higher education institutions. The training will provide local experts with in depth knowledge of quality management of e-learning programme development and delivery. They will be able to employ European standards methodologies to their own and other programs and courses. The report closes with a number of conclusions and future recommendations. One suggestion supports the notion of the NCFHE being in a position to assign a prestigious NCFHE quality label to local accredited institutions that offer NCFHE accredited e- learning based distance learning courses as a top assurance indicator of quality.