Panel Discussion: Innovation in Quality for Open, Flexible, and Distance Learning

This panel discussion was part of the ICDE Virtual Global Conference Week program and hosted by the ICDE Quality Network.

The last 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic have seen a range of challenges as well as opportunities for learners, teachers, and educational managers in the rapid development of online and blended approaches to learning and teaching necessitated by the closure of schools and campuses. Of core concern has been consideration of what makes up quality in the learning and teaching experience, with negative as well as positive experiences in the online world for many learners.

 

The ICDE Quality Network reported in two sessions from various world regions on new ideas and innovations in the field of quality in the recent period, and in particular on how the understanding of quality in educational institutions with deep experience of online and flexible learning can support campus-based programmes as they plan for the future.

The panelists furthermore discussed the acceleration and upscaling now and after the pandemic towards more flexible and digitally supported programmes of study, and the implications for the development of innovative approaches to quality to support this.

Central questions which the ICDE Quality Network panels discussed include:

  • What are the most recent developments in different regions in the understanding and practice of Quality for online and flexible programmes?

  • How can the expertise held by educational institutions specialising in online and distance learning be developed in partnership with campus-based institutions that want to enhance the quality of their blended and online programmes in the future?

  • Which innovative approaches to quality enhancement are emerging from the acceleration and upscaling of online/distance and hybrid study concepts?

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Time, date and agenda

Times and Dates for the Panel Discussion are:

  • Innovation in Quality Panel session (America/Europe/Africa)

    Tuesday 26 October at 16:00 CEST

    Presentations from panelists and the following members of the ICDE Quality Network was followed by Q&A and discussions:

    • Yaping Gao, Quality Matters (QM), US

    • Dr. Santiago Acosta Aide, Private Technical University of Loja (UTPL) / Caled, Ecuador

    • George Ubachs, EADTU, Netherlands


  • Innovation in Quality Panel session (Middle East, Asia and Oceania)
    Wednesday 27 October at 11:00 CEST

    • Prof. Moustafa Hassan, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), United Arab Emirates

    • Prof. Ojat Darojat, Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia

    • Dr. Rajni Chand, University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji


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 session:

A post panel summary will be provided from the two different sessions encompassing the presented key points from panelists and input to the discussions provided by delegates.

More information about the ICDE Quality Network:

The network consists of 7 Focal Points on Quality (FPQs) appointed among ICDE Institutional Members from all world regions. The Focal Points have a leading and coordinating role for quality enhancement of open, flexible and distance education within their institutions and in their respective regions. Read more

 
ICDE Events, ICDE Past Events, Member EventsCaroline Seville