Experts in open and distance learning (ODL) have called for an urgent review and strengthening of quality assurance mechanisms to keep pace with rapid technological and educational developments, including artificial intelligence (AI), micro-credentials, open educational resources (OER) and cross-border learning.
The experts made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a regional workshop on “Quality Assurance Mechanisms for Emerging Issues in Open and Distance Learning”, organised by the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).
Adviser on Higher Education at COL, Canada, Prof. Jane-Frances Agbu, said the rapid transformation of education was raising new concerns around standards, academic integrity, recognition, equity, learner protection and institutional responsibility.
Agbu, who addressed participants virtually, said AI was changing teaching, learning and assessment, while micro-credentials were challenging traditional concepts of qualifications, recognition and educational pathways.
She added that OER were expanding access to knowledge and creating new opportunities for collaboration, while cross border education was extending the reach of institutions beyond national boundaries.
According to her, although the developments offer significant opportunities, quality assurance systems must evolve alongside the learning systems they are designed to regulate.
“This brings us to the fundamental question: How do we ensure that quality assurance evolves as rapidly as the learning systems it is meant to assure?” she asked.
Agbu stressed that quality was central to building confidence in ODL, saying learners, governments, employers and institutions must trust the system for it to achieve its potential in West Africa.
“If open and distance learning is to realise its full promise for West Africa, then learners, government, employers and institutions must trust it. And trust is built on quality,” she said.
She disclosed that a status study had been commissioned ahead of the workshop to assess how quality assurance systems across the region were responding to emerging issues in ODL.
Agbu said the workshop would enable participants to examine the findings, exchange experiences and develop practical and regionally relevant responses.
She described RETRIDOL as an important platform for regional dialogue, learning and action, noting that its role included ensuring that regional realities and priorities influenced policy and practice.
Also speaking, the Director of RETRIDOL, Prof. Dorothy Ofoha, said the institute was established in 2003 through a partnership between NOUN and COL to advance ODL in the West African sub region.
Ofoha said the institute had strengthened the capacity of higher education institutions through training and research while promoting regional collaboration.
She noted that the increasing use of AI, OER, learning analytics and micro credentials was reshaping quality assurance practices and raising questions about the adequacy of existing systems.
“These developments challenge us to reflect on whether our existing quality assurance systems remain responsive to the evolving realities and demands of contemporary ODL provision,” she said.
Ofoha said the workshop was designed to promote dialogue, collaborative problem solving and practical sessions that would lead to actionable frameworks and policy recommendations.
“The overall goal of the workshop is to build participants’ capacity to develop and implement quality assurance mechanisms that effectively respond to emerging threats and challenges in open and distance learning,” she said.
She added that participants included senior academics, quality assurance practitioners, heads of institutions, directors of distance learning centres, policymakers, senior administrators and experts from across West Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Shehu Adamu, said quality assurance remained fundamental to the credibility, effectiveness and sustainability of ODL.
Uduma said the growing acceptance of ODL had established it as an integral component of contemporary higher education, but its continued credibility depended on maintaining high standards.
“We have now realised that ODL is a system that must come to stay. However, in order to strengthen our quality assurance mechanism, we need to ensure that what we do is governed by quality. The theme of this workshop could not be more timely,” he said.
He said advances in AI, digital learning technologies, OER, micro credentials and data driven learning systems were fundamentally changing the ODL landscape.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the quality assurance challenges were regional and could not be effectively addressed by individual institutions in isolation.
He therefore urged participants to contribute actively to the discussions, share experiences and identify approaches that could be adapted to strengthen their institutions.
Uduma commended COL for its continued partnership and support for capacity development, innovation and knowledge sharing in ODL.
He also acknowledged the contributions of professionals and institutions advancing the sector, stressing that stronger regional collaboration would be essential to developing quality assurance systems capable of responding effectively to emerging developments.
