ABSTRACT
Commonwealth of Learning's (COL) approach to quality assurance (QA) has been threefold: to influence policy at national and institutional levels, to develop resources, and to build the capacity of institutions and individuals in implementing quality assurance to manage Open and Distance Learning (ODL) systems with efficiency and effectiveness. COL continues its advocacy efforts to ensure that open universities and campus providers share the purpose of all universities. Using Transnational Qualifications Framework, developed by COL for mutual recognition of qualifications, institutions assess their respective practices as a step towards external accreditation or as an ongoing process of continuous self-improvement. Recognizing the potential of making learning resources available free of cost as well as free from restrictions on their wider use, COL embraced the Open Educational Resource (OER) movement to promote access and adaptation of teaching materials. This chapter discusses the specific features of the QA initiatives for OER.
