Panel Discussion: Upscaling quality assurance systems through benchmarking online and open higher education institutions
This panel discussion was part of the ICDE Virtual Global Conference Week 2021 program and was hosted by the Consortium for Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education.
The session was organised by the Consortium for Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education to discuss the developed quality assurance framework, present results of its pilot implementation and identify the way forward. The panel examined opportunities and challenges on the way to establishing and upscaling robust quality assurance systems and mechanisms for benchmarking online higher education.
Many quality assurance systems have been developed to evaluate higher education institutions. However, these systems use methodologies that are suitable for conventional institutions rather than technology-enhanced education. With the current accelerated move to online modes of delivery and new technological solutions for flexible and distant learning, there is a need to adopt innovative mechanisms for quality assurance. In this context, the Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education has been developed with a two-fold focus: to provide for quality assurance from the global perspective; and make the data available for everyone interested in benchmarking their educational institutions against the landscape of online education.
Central questions which the panel discussed:
How the Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education was developed to provide for quality assurance from the global perspective? What are the lessons learnt during the development phase?
What are the main benefits and challenges to adopt the Benchmarking Framework?
What is the future of the Benchmarking Framework and how will it contribute to assuring higher levels of quality in online and open higher education?
Time, date and speakers
Topic: “Upscaling quality assurance systems through benchmarking online and open higher education institutions”
Date/Time: Thursday 28 October at 10:00 CEST
Chair:
Elena Tarasova, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), United Arab Emirates
Speakers:
Presentations from the panelists was followed by Q&A and discussions. Bio’s and photos of the speakers can be found the bottom of this page.
Prof. Moustafa Hassan, Vice-Chancellor for International Cooperation, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), United Arab Emirates
Dr. Alessandro Caforio, Head of Research and Innovation, International Telematic University (UNINETTUNO), Italy
Dr. Souma Alhaj Ali, Director of Excellence and Governance, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), United Arab Emirates
Dr. Maria Rowena Raymundo, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Philippines
Prof. Lim Cher Ping, Visiting Professor at UNESCO-ICHEI and Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation, Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), Hong Kong
Registered participants for the ICDE Virtual Global Conference Week 2021 will receive links to join prior to the launch of the event.
Key outputs from the panel discussion:
Inform ICDE members of the Benchmarking Framework and its applicability in different regions.
Share lessons learned during the pilot implementation of the Benchmarking Framework.
About the Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-enhanced Higher Education:
The Benchmarking Framework for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education is an assessment tool for online universities aimed to identify its strengths and vulnerabilities and benchmark itself in a rapidly evolving landscape of higher education. The Framework has been collectively developed by members of the Consortium – experts from online and open universities, quality assurance agencies and higher education associations with respect to unique aspects of online education and the rising need in quality assurance.
Please find more information at: https://www.icde.org/knowledge-hub/benchmarking-framework-consortium?rq=benchmarking
Speaker bio’s:
Dr. Maria Rowena Del Rosario-Raymundo
Dr. Maria Rowena Del Rosario-Raymundo is the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). She is a graduate of the UP Open University Faculty of Education’s Master of Distance Education (MDE) program, of which she is also the immediate past Program Chair. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in foundations of distance education, online teaching and learning, mobile learning and lifelong learning. Her research interests include distance learning, e-learning and mobile learning applications in the medical field, and quality assurance of distance education. Dr. Raymundo is an awardee of the One U.P. Faculty Grant Award in Distance Education for Outstanding Teaching and Public Service in UP Open University (2019-2021).
Dr. Raymundo is also the head of UPOU’s Quality Assurance Committee. She has completed the Asean University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Trainings in Tier 1, 2 and 3, and oversees QA initiatives in the university.
Dr. Raymundo is also a licensed physician and board-certified obstetrician and gynaecological, surgeon, sub-specialising in infectious diseases. She is a former faculty member at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and is an active clinical trialist and researcher.
Dr. Souma Alhaj Ali
Dr. Souma Alhaj Ali is an Associate Professor in Industrial Engineering-Artificial Neural Network and Robotics; she is currently the Director for Excellence and Governance at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU). She has a strong record of achievement combining skills in diverse areas of Industrial Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, and Quality and Excellence. She’s held many positions in public and private sectors, including the Director of the Center of Academic Quality Assurance at Hashemite University and the Executive Director for the United Industrial Group Corporation. She is a lead assessor for the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model and a Lead Auditor for Middle East e-Learning Quality Framework (MeLQ) with more than fifteen years of experience in building and operating quality management systems and designing automated systems and solutions in both private and governmental sectors. Dr. Souma was the ICDE Focal Point on quality in the Arab region during 2017-2020. She published over 25 peer-reviewed papers in reputed international scientific journals and was granted 4 funded projects. Dr. Souma has a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Industrial Engineering from University of Jordan and a PhD degree from University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Prof. Cher Ping LIM
Cher Ping LIM is a Chair Professor of Learning Technologies and Innovation and Associate Dean (International Engagement) at The Education University of Hong Kong. He is a Chief Expert of the International Institute of Online Education and Visiting Professor at UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovations. His key research and engagement areas are (1) enhancing higher education equity, quality and efficiency enabled by digital technologies, (2) building the capacity of the higher education workforce, and (3) addressing the competency gaps between universities and industries through curriculum and assessment reforms and partnerships.
Prof. Moustafa Hassan
Prof. Hassan is a public health professor with three decades of experience in higher education in the MENA region. He assumed several academic roles in universities across the Middle East, including Dean and Provost positions. He is currently the Vice-Chancellor of International Cooperation at Hamadan Bin Mohammed University in Dubai, the first accredited online university in the GCC region. He championed the mission of HBMSU to educate the innovators of tomorrow to drive sustainable economic and social development.
Throughout his career, he established face-to-face and online academic degree programs, implemented initiatives for integrating ICT in higher education, implemented best practices for online learning, and established joint-degree programs with international universities. He implemented several faculty development programs to support faculty transition from conventional to online delivery. Currently, he leads the efforts of a group of international experts to develop and implement a benchmarking framework for technology-enhanced higher education. Prof. Hassan is an advocate of online learning in the MENA region.
His research interests expand from improving healthcare quality to integrating ICT in higher education to achieve a better learning experience among students. Professor Hassan received a world-class education from Alexandria University, the University of Warwick, and Harvard University.
Dr. Alessandro Caforio
Dr. Caforio is the Director of Research and Innovation at International Telematic University (UNINETTUNO), where he coordinates the design and the management of research projects focused on innovation in programs and curricula, ICT technologies applied to teaching and learning processes, on social innovation and inclusive design; he is also member of the Quality Assurance Body of UNINETTUNO as expert of UNINETTUNO didactic model. He is furthermore Contract Professor for the “Instructional design in e-learning” course in the Master Degree of Psychology, and of "Digital Technologies and Cognitive Processes", the “Psychotechnologies for learning processes” courses in the BAs of Communication and Psychology. He is a member of the “Innovation Expert Register” of the Italian Minister of Economic Development, and member of EMPOWER expert pools in “Course and Curriculm Design” and “Continuous Professional Development and SLPs” (https://empower.eadtu.eu/fields-of-expertise).
He has been involved and managed European projects in the Lifelong Learning, Tempus, Creative Europe, Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ programmes; his international research activities are focused on technologies and processes for teaching, training and learning. His skills range from cognitive psychology to front-end web design, from user requirement analysis and design of e-learning systems to experimental pedagogy.
Chair:
Elena Tarasova
Elena Tarasova is a Strategic Affairs Manager at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in Dubai, UAE, and has diverse professional experience in the field of international affairs in higher education. She previously worked for UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (Moscow, Russia) and contributed to many international projects and events in ICT in education.