Evolution of Internal Quality Assurance Models for University Online Programs

The widespread adoption of online formats in 2020 established a trend towards the development of online education and intensified the issue of assessing the quality of distance higher education programs. The subsequent necessity to adapt to the post-pandemic context prompted universities to develop both new online programs and innovative approaches to managing their quality. Despite the proliferation of online formats, there is a lack of publications analyzing the evolution of internal quality assurance mechanisms in such contexts. This study examines the dynamics of the emergence and transformation of internal evaluation and quality assurance models for university online programs from 2009 to 2023. The research compares 17 models focused on various aspects of the educational process, thereby tracing the evolution of internal quality assurance mechanisms. The analysis is conducted based on parameters identified through a literature review as well as during the course of the research itself. The results allow for the identification of three developmental periods for these models: experimental, transitional, and contemporary. Educational aspects that are present in all models within the sample (technologies, student-centered design, and online teaching) are distinguished from those characteristic only of some models (environment development, resource reuse, support for students, faculty, and staff, and communication). A description of the evolution of each aspect within the identified periods is provided, along with their connection to the concept of quality in online environments. This work may be beneficial for researchers in the field of quality assurance, higher education administrators, and educational policy specialists.