Distance learning is growing at a fast pace in all parts of the globe. While its most dramatic growth has been in South East Asia, it has made significant headway in North America, Europe and Australasia. India has also witnessed a sizeable expansion of distance learning during the past two decades or so. This growth has opened the floodgates of opportunities for students to have access to higher education and embark on rewarding careers. The concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) was developed by business houses and industries to establish standards and techniques that ensure quality of products or services through continuous improvement rather than through final inspection. Government and academic leaders also recognize that improving the quality of distance education on a continuous basis is crucial to make the students capable of meeting the challenges that lie ahead. Consequently, educational institutions throughout the world are being influenced by the TQM concept. Athabasca University, the Open University of Malaysia, the University of Southern Queensland and the UK Open University—all apply TQM to their operations. The book brings together the knowledge, perspective, and practical experience of educators from across the globe to explore diverse approaches to quality in distance education. It provides an up-to-date, international exploration of quality in distance learning by assembling new knowledge and framing key issues for policymakers and practitioners in both developed and developing nations. The inclusion of quality assurance issues and introduction of TQM practices has increased the book’s appeal to regulators and administrators of education. Besides, it will immensely help the faculties of distance learning institutions.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments; Preface—Part A: Total quality management: Concept and Applications—1. The Quality Movement; 2. Total Quality Management; 3. Total Quality Management and Continuous Improvement; 4. Total Quality Management in Education; 5. Quality Scenario in Distance Education; 6. Total Quality Management of Distance Education; 7. Making Total Quality Management: A Success; 8. Quality Accreditation—Part B: GLOBAL Practices and Experiences—9. Quality Practices at Open Universities Australia–Ann Deden; 10. Quality Management at Open University of Hong Kong–Todd C.Y. Ng and Danny S.N. Wong; 11. Quality Management in Course Development and Delivery at the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre–Dianne Thurab-Nkhosi and Stewart Marshall; 12. Quality Practices and the UK Open University–Richard Lewis; 13. Quality Assurance and Assessment System in Distance Education: Stepwise Actions and Pragmatic Experience of Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia–Aminudin Zuhairi, Dewi Padmo, Kristanti A. Puspitasari and Agung S. Putra; 14. Quality in Flexible, Online and Distance Education at Deakin University, Australia–Dale Holt and Stuart Palmer; 15. Quality Management System at the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand–Rowan Anderson, Axel Laurs, Caryl-Louise Robinson and Sally Rawnsley; 16. Role of Distance Education Council in Promoting Quality in the Distance Education System in India–Manjulika Srivastava, Nalini Lele and Bharat Bhushan; Bibliography; Contributors