Strategy for a sustained quality delivery mode of ODL programmes for massive enrollments and e-learning: The Case for Zimbabwe Open University

Abstract

The market dynamics in distance education has precipitated phenomenal growth opportunities in enrollments and e-learning. The purpose of the paper was to develop a strategy for sustained quality delivery mode of distance education progammes that precipitate massive enrollments and e-learning in an open and distance learning (ODL) institution using Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) as a case study. There is an increase in public accountability for higher education which compels institutions to demonstrate quality within the programmes and processes, including those provided online. The strategy for massive enrollments and e-learning is developed and this includes a mobile strategy and mobile web framework. How the landscape of quality assurance has been changed by the emergence of MOOCs is discussed. The methodology used is qualitative and focus groups were used as research designs in the case study of Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). Triangulation and peer review was used to test the validity of the data. Strategic directions were developed to inform the new key result areas, goals, objectives, strategies and priorities for the university for the period 2015-2020.