Framework For Quality Assurance And Improvement In Adult Education For Online And Blended Learning: A Qualitative Study – Preliminary Results

Online and blended learning (OBL) is emerging in adult education (AE) in Flanders (Belgium). As the demand increases, providers need general, balanced, scientifically-grounded guidelines, measures and instruments to monitor all important quality aspects. However for this context a common quality framework for OBL is lacking. In literature it is argued that methodologies need to be developed that permit the contextualization of existing quality frameworks. To achieve this the conceptual model of Ossiannilsson and Landgren [1] with success factors for quality in OBL to meet students’ expectations, demands, and rights in HE is promising: accessibility, flexibility, interactivity, personalization, transparency, productivity and participation. The present study was designed to identify success factors for quality in OBL that is designed for adult learners in centers for AE (Flanders, Belgium). It is a first step towards the construction of a framework that institutions, or accreditation bodies, can use to contextualize quality frameworks.

ISBN:978-84-608-2657-6

Publication year:2015

Keywords:online learning, blended learning, quality assurance, improvement