Article Report: Quality of Open and Distance Learning at Hanoi Open University

The full article can be accessed and downloaded from
rumahbelajar.id

Pan Van Que and Tran Duc Vuong from Vietnam conducted a research about the quality of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) towards Hanoi Open University in 2008. The main question was the management and development of quality in ODL: How an educational institution can manage ODL effectively and improve the quality to meet expectations of its intended audience.

According to the provisional regulations on accreditation published by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, there were 10 areas of standards that needed to be met. To ease the process of identifying what and how the quality of ODL can be measured, Que and Vuong relied on a Four Component Model developed by Professor Robinson from the University of Leeds, UK. The model investigated: 

• Products
• Services
• Administrative system
• Philosophy and ethos in connection to the quality of learning experience for learners.

In addition, they incorporated the Quality Wheel Model (focusing on learning materials, administration, learner support services, & learning experience) and Model of Five Criteria (consisting of effort, performance, adequacy, efficiency, and process). Based on the three mentioned models, Hanoi Open University has proven itself to provide quality education. It lived up (and surely still does live up) its slogan to upgrade people's knowledge, train human resources and breed talents. This was evident through the following indicators:

• The faculties produced graduates with good quality that attracted employment of enterprises.
• The human resources trained met requirements of particular areas, regions, and industries in terms of suitability, adaptability, and effectiveness.
• The number of students continuously increased.
• Hanoi Open University catered students from all social spheres, leading to new motivations to learn.
• Cooperation with mass media allowed nearly 9.000 ODL programs to be broadcast, bringing knowledge and news to million.
• 45 local centers were established in 26 provinces and cities, making the system stretch from north to south, serving people from different areas.
• Print media were combined with CDs, VCDs, CD-ROMs, video conferencing, e-books, web-based materials, online tutorials, and radio transmissions.
• The university minimized costs, resulting in effective budgeting.

In conclusion, ODL in Hanoi Open University met standards of quality when measured with the three selected models. But by the end of the day, the students are in the best position to evaluate the quality, which is personal and subjective, based on individual needs, demands, desires, and experiences.

Since customer satisfaction is the most prominent aspect in quality, Que and Vuong suggested ODL institutions to have among others: Measurable standards, guidelines for implementation, the inclusion of stakeholder involvement, consistent evaluation methods, and coordinated quality assurance initiatives at regional, national, and international levels.