Abstract
- Higher education including open & distance learning is an instrument of transformation. This transformation cannot come about without high quality of the system and what the system offers. It is difficult to define quality. In the distance learning system, quality is best defined as fitness for purpose in combination with exceptional high standards, perfection and consistency, value for money, and transformation capabilities. Quality assurance must cover areas such as curriculum design, content and delivery organization; teaching, learning and assessment; etc
- India has always been quality conscious in education. From olden times Indian peers have laid great emphasis on quality. In recent times, several national level efforts are made to ensure quality, like the National Education Policy of 1968, the National Policy on Education of 1986, setting up of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Several higher education regulatory bodies including the Distance Education Council.
- The case study given in part 2 indicates the quality concerns expressed in the working of Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, a leading private sector provider of distance learning in India. Quality assurance is brought to bear in practically all the aspects of the Institute’s functioning, like academic, assessment and evaluation, student care & support, etc.
Journal eISSN: 2304-070X
Language: English
Page range: 26 - 32
Published on: Mar 1, 2010
Published by: International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
© 2010 S.K. Gandhe, published by International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.