Project

Type: Structural Measures in Governance Reform

Grant Holder: Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT)

Budget: 1 108 666,59 €

Duration: 3 Years

Start Date: 15 December 2013 to 14 December 2016

Subject Area: Quality and Evaluation of Education

National Priority

eQTeL is a Structural Measures project which completely addresses "Governance Reform” under the theme: Introduction of Quality Assurance. This is a national priority for Jordan. It will modernise and reform teaching methodologies.The project has been designed to improve the quality and relevance of technology-enhanced in Jordan trough developing and implementing new accreditation standards, guidelines and procedures for distance learning study programs according to EU practices. This proposal has been instigated and is highly supported by Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research as well as the Higher Education Accreditation Commission. eQTeL will focus on developing a quality assurance framework to foster in technology-enhanced learning in university education in Jordan, and establishing a sustainable capacity building programme to support faculty implement technology in education.

Wider Objective

The wider objective of the project is to promote reform and modernization of higher education in Jordan through the introduction of a national quality assurance system for technologyenhanced learning.

Executive Summary

eQTeL aims to improve the quality and relevance of technology-enhanced learning (TeL) at Jordanian higher education institutions and to enable the country’s easier inclusion into European Higher Education Area. The main project objective is to improve, develop and implement accreditation standards, guidelines and procedures for quality assurance of TeL courses and study programs at a national level. The new standards will assimilate the quality of Tel courses offered by higher education institutions in Jordan, and would consequently be incorporated into existing legal acts and regulatory documents at both institutional and national levels. Implementation of the new standards will be ensured through establishing a capacity building programme that provides extensive training for all levels of staff involved in accreditation or delivery of TeL programs, from teaching staff, trainers, evaluators, official accreditation reviewers and higher education public authorities. This will result in improving staff competences in defining and applying a standardized quality assurance system; defining national standards for TeL taking into account quality references and guideline commonly shared with Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research as well as the Higher Education Accreditation Commission . The project will also seek the possibility to develop a close connection with the Bologna 3-degree cycle structure to allow for better definition and positioning of the training programmes. This is in agreement with the European Neighbouring Policy and the Catania Declaration of January 2006.Internal and external mechanisms for “Quality Control and Monitoring” of the project will be realized, continuously maintained and evaluated at several levels. The project may make a wide impact on the national accreditation system in Jordan, and thus synergy of universities, the ministry and HEAC is the best guarantee for the sustainability of project beyond its life time.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of eQTeL are to:

1. improve, develop and implement accreditation standards, guidelines and procedures for quality assurance of distance learning study programs according to EU practices;

2. establish a framework for improving the quality of technology-enhance learning (TeL) and eLearning methodology on higher education institutions in Jordan;

3. provide training for relevant public authorities personnel responsible for accreditation and evaluation of distance learning programs and build the capacity of trainers involved in distance education in Jordan;

4. disseminate good practices on assuring the quality of technology-enhanced learning courses, degrees and programmes.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the commission cannot be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.