Quality Assurance in Open Distance Learning: IGNOU a Case Study

Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) isbecoming increasingly important due to the large-scaleexpansion in modes of educational delivery. In India ODL wasintroduced in its most primitive form as correspondenceeducation in the 1960s. Over five decades it has evolved andtaken on different forms from corresponding education in the1960s and 70s to Open and Distance Education in the 1980s,and Virtual Education and Online Education in the last decade.In fact, all three generations of ODL are co-existing in theform of Correspondence Course Institutes/Directorates ofDistance Education attached to conventional Universities;State Open Universities; National Open University;Professional Associations; Private Universities and Institutionsand Foreign Universities. The quality of open and distancelearning (ODL) varies, like any other form of education. Itsquality (however you define it) can be the result of a variety offactors, both internal and external to an ODL organization forexample, the levels of skills and expertise of staff, the amountof resources available, weak or strong leadership, efficiency ofits administrative systems, or the communicationsinfrastructure in a country.