Quality assurance frameworks for digital education

This chapter responds to concerns about the quality of online distance education. It discusses the challenge of defining quality in an ever-changing digital learning ecosystem. What does quality look like and who should get to judge it? More specifically, what quality assurance (QA) frameworks are required for online, blended, and flexible learning? While this question is not new, there is an unresolved debate about whether QA frameworks should differ from those already in place for more traditional study modes. Two studies frame the chapter and underlying assumptions. First, the chapter draws on a review of institutional self-assessment tools for digitally enhanced teaching completed by the European Universities Association (EUA). Second, it reports findings from a critical analysis of QA frameworks developed around the globe for digital education undertaken by the OECD. Common trends and significant gaps in the literature are identified along with several new and emerging quality considerations.