The international scene

1. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

2. The international scene 1) Fifty years ago, professors had the full responsibility for a small number of students. Their work was evaluated on research results. 2) The number of students entering higher education has always increased and 1968 has seen a major speed-up of the process. 3) At the end of the 20th century, higher education has become a topic of interest for the World Trade Organisation (Uruguay round). Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

3. The recent evolution 1) Students are easily moving from one university to the other. 2) Universities are using marketing techniques to attract the best students. 3) European Universities are adapting to the Bachelor-Master-PhD system. 4) Curricula tend to become compatible from one university to the other. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

4. The student’s requirements for quality in education Quality should answer the following aspirations: Access to jobs after education; Social positioning after education; Travel from one university to the other; Appropriate facilities (housing, sport, cultural life on the campus, etc.). Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

5. The institution's requirements for quality in education Quality should answer the following aspirations: Attract the best students; Attract the best professors; Provide compatibility of curricula; Use of standards (ECTS, LOM, etc.) in order to reduce development costs of curricula. Ensure reproducibility of processes from year to year. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

6. What is quality of distance education ? Quality should measure the following aspects of distance education: Management; Curricula and materials; Pedagogical methods; Educational services and professors; Students services; Recruitment and admission of students. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

7. What is accreditation of distance education ? Accreditation defines a minimum level of quality. The definition does not introduce uniformity into distance education. Accreditation is performed by responsible humans, with the help of computers. Accreditation is a marketing tool for institutions. Accreditation is a guaranty for students. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

8. Expected resultsof our project The main output from the project will be a proposal for a European accreditation system in e-learning and blended learning. As compared to an American accreditation system, we anticipate that the European criteria will put more emphasis on pedagogical methods and less on management. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

9. Our work 1) Compare the European experiences on distance learning with an existing accreditation referential (criteria, methodology, policy, etc.). In a first instance, the DETC (Distance Education and Training Council, US) will be considered. 2) Improve and enlarge these criteria from the exchange of information on the practical experiences done by partners of our project and more generally in higher educational institutions in Europe. 3) Adapt these criteria for the definition of an emerging European accreditation process in e-learning and blended learning. Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

10. Partners Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées MMB Institute for Media and Competence Research Altran SDB Kungl Tekniska Högskolan POLIEDRA Politecnico di Milano Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe

11. Dates Starting date : 1st of January 2004 Ending date : 30th of June 2005 Special Interest Group Distance Learning Accreditation in Europe