Managing Quality in a ODL Institution: the Experience of Open University Malaysia

Ahmed, Ansari (2004) Managing Quality in a ODL Institution: the Experience of Open University Malaysia. In: Seminar Nasional UT - SEAMOLEC 2004, 2-3 September 2004, Universitas Terbuka.

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Abstract

One of the primary objectives of quality management at the Open University Malaysia (OUM) is to ensure that the organization's resources are optimally focused on both the internal and external customers' needs. Quality management efforts are directed at students, as well as other stakeholders, including the internal and external tutors, administrative staff, module writers, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and the off-campus learning centres administrators. At OUM, the quality management activities are closely integrated with the institutional research activities. Thus the former which are crucial in ensuring the success of distance education programs are carefully coordinated with the latter that include conducting ongoing needs assessments (formal and informal). The Centre for Quality Management and Research & Innovation (CQMRI) functions as a catalyst and facilitator of all OUM’s quality initiatives. The Centre’s main task is in the operationalisation of a suitable quality management system to improve and monitors OUM’s key performance areas namely; the (i) Corporate Culture, (ii) Products/Learning Courseware, (iii) Assessment Processes, (iv) Learner Support Services and (v) Graduate Competencies. In short, at OUM, delivering quality education is about ensuring that the total learning experience in the ODL mode is at par with acceptable international standards. The other major challenge is in the unforgiving competitiveness of private education, thus OUM has chosen the “quality path” as the only way for doing business and staying in business.

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