| Summary: | Over the last several decades, higher education in many countries has been significantly
transformed; with various new institutions established and many novel academic
programmes now on offer. This is a common worldwide development; reflecting the
universal focus on higher education as a national investment for economic progress and
building human capital. This rapid growth and expansion are accompanied by an equal
concern for quality, particularly in an environment where private higher education
entities, including open universities and open and distance learning (ODL) institutions,
are becoming prominent providers of learning opportunities for the masses. In this
regard, ensuring quality is critical, as ODL has become synonymous with educating
working adults – individuals who, as members of a nation’s labour force, are
instrumental to national development. Additionally, the increasing influence of
information and communication technology (ICT) on educational practices has also
called for more rigorous and stringent quality assurance (QA) systems and procedures.
QA is important as a means to establish standards and accountability; ensure learner
satisfaction; and enhance institutional image and prestige. As Malaysia’s premier open
university, Open University Malaysia’s (OUM) understanding of QA stems from a holistic
institutional approach that emphasises learner-centredness. This keynote address will
discuss the strategies and approaches that OUM has adopted to create a QA system that
complies with existing national guidelines, while exploring the development of a quality
concept that is suited to the unique nature of ODL. This paper will also discuss how
benchmarking and adopting best practices can contribute to a more well-rounded
approach that can benefit open universities and other higher education institutions
across the region. (Abstract by author)
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