Quality Assurance In In House Continuing Training

Nine European Community Member States (Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom) conducted national studies that involved case studies of quality assurance in continuing education. Analysis of findings indicated that many firms regarded continuing training as a central instrument for achieving economic goals and as an investment. Two different forms of cooperation between firms and training providers were identified. Large enterprises systematically planned, designed, implemented, and evaluated their personnel advancement and continuing training procedures as an integral part of corporate strategy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were dependent for their planning and quality assurance needs on external help. The burden of quality control was increasingly passing from the customers to the suppliers of continuing training. Training institutions had to be able to verify the quality of their offerings credibly. Quality assurance methods would contribute to improved continuing training if the formal training requirements were given a teaching-related content and SMEs received external help from training providers. In addition, self-assessment should be encouraged, and the technical side of learning and teaching should be evaluated. (An appendix contains summaries of the status and future prospects of quality assurance in continuing training in the countries studied.) (YLB)

This report assesses the status and practice of higher education quality assurance in Sub - Sahara Africa, focusing on degree - granting tertiary institutions. A main finding is that structured national - level quality assurance processes in African higher education are a very recent phenomenon and that most countries face major capacity constrains. Only about a third of them have established structured national quality assurance mechanism, often only as recently as during the last ten years. Activities differ in their scope and rigor, ranging from simple licensing of institutions by the minister responsible for higher education, to comprehensive system - wide program accreditation and ranking of institutions. Within institutions of higher learning, self assessment and academic audits are gradually being adopted to supplement traditional quality assurance methods. However, knowledge about and experience with self - assessments are limited. The main challenges to quality assurance system in Africa are cost and human capacity requirements. For countries with large tertiary systems, the report recommends institutional, rather than program accreditation as a cost - effective option. However, where tertiary systems are small and underdeveloped, a less formal self - assessment for each institution may be necessary until the capacity could be strengthened to support a more formal nation quality assurance agency in the long run.

In the face of the relentless rise in health costs, many countries have had to set priorities so that maximum benefit can be made of unlimited funds. This book shares the experience of those which have taken a lead in this field, and draws on models being developed in Oregon, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Sweden as well as the UK. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each system from which healthcare planners and managers can draw their own conclusions and apply to the situation for which they are responsible.

This is a core text for anyone training to be (or working as) an internal or external quality assurer in the further education and skills sector. It has all the information you need to work towards the quality assurance units for qualifications such as: The Certificate and Diploma in Education and Training, or the quality assurance units of the Learning and Development (TAQA) qualification. The book takes you through all the information you need to know, opening up the topic for learning in an easily accessible way. Interactive activities are included throughout, and real examples of quality assurance in practice are included. The book also includes examples of completed internal and external quality assurance documents. It is a comprehensive text, covering: · principles of internal and external quality assurance · planning quality assurance activities · carrying out quality assurance activities · risk management · making decisions and providing feedback · record keeping · evaluating practice · the role and use of technology · planning, allocating and monitoring the work of others This is your guide to understanding how to use internal quality assurance activities effectively with assessors, and external quality assurance activities with centre staff. ?Ann Gravells is leading a CPD Day on 22nd June in London. The event will focus on Raising quality and improving practice in the FE and Skills sector and is a rare opportunity to learn from leading experts. There will only be a limited number of seats available, so book your place here to avoid disappointment.

Quality assurance (QA) in open and distance learning (ODL) can be a contentious issue. Some argue that it should be judged by the same criteria and methods as face-to-face education, while others claim that it is so different in its organization, enrolments and operations that conventional QA mechanisms cannot apply. Some advocate the use of specific guidelines and standards for e-learning; others believe that, regardless of the technology, the basic principles of quality teaching and learning should apply. Providers who have enjoyed freedom from external scrutiny may resist attempts at external regulation and auditing and look upon QA as yet another imposition of corporatization and bureaucracy on education. Others see it as a means of establishing a culture of quality, self-reflection and self-improvement. There is little research-based literature to guide policy-makers, managers and practitioners in applying QA in education and training to ensure the right balance is found between accountability and autonomy, as well as assuring quality for the time and costs involved. In this respect, Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is a book that is long overdue. It explains what is involved in QA and accreditation in education. It describes and analyzes applications of these practices in open, distance, dual-mode and conventional universities throughout Europe, North America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific, looking at open schooling, e-learning in conventional schools, non-formal adult and community education, and corporate and small-to-medium enterprises. Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Distance Education and e-Learning is edited and authored by experts with extensive international experience in ODL, e-learning and QA who give careful consideration to the possibilities and challenges involved. The book will be an invaluable guide for all policy-makers, managers, practitioners and researchers in the field.