Internal quality assessment from theory to practice: A case study of a fully electronic university.
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| Title: | Internal quality assessment from theory to practice: A case study of a fully electronic university. |
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| Authors: | Mostafavi, Zainab Sadat1 (AUTHOR) Mostafavi60@ut.ac.ir, Ramezani, Seyedeh Golafrooz2,3 (AUTHOR) golafrooz.ramezani@helsinki.fi |
| Source: | Education & Information Technologies. Jun2026, Vol. 31 Issue 9, p2567-2598. 32p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Virtual universities & colleges, *Online education, Quality assurance, Communication infrastructure, Stakeholder analysis |
| Abstract: | This study aims to pilot a comprehensive internal quality evaluation model in a fully online, open, electronic, and distance education (OEDE) university. By applying the model at the case university, the research investigates how key stakeholders assess institutional quality across five core dimensions: organizational structure, education, research and innovation, ICT infrastructure, and support services. A concurrent mixed-methods design combined quantitative surveys (n = 1,198 valid responses) with qualitative interviews (n = 218), document analysis, and infrastructure observation. The internal evaluation was guided by a validated accreditation checklist (developed in our first publication) and questionnaire (introduced in our second publication) from earlier phases of this research. Stakeholders included students, faculty, administrators, alumni, employers, and partner institutions. Triangulation was used to ensure credibility and integration across data sources. The evaluation identified strong performance in digital leadership, course design, ICT infrastructure, and student support services in the case university. However, limitations were found in international collaboration, transformative educational technologies, faculty research opportunities, and emotional-cognitive support mechanisms. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility and value of applying a stakeholder-inclusive quality model in an OEDE context. The model provides a replicable tool for internal quality assurance in digital universities. Institutions can use it to align their practices with international standards while maintaining contextual sensitivity. This study, as the third in a series following two prior investigations, offers one of the first practical applications of a theoretically grounded accreditation model specifically designed for OEDE institutions. It bridges the gap between policy and practice, providing empirical insights into how quality assurance can be operationalized through inclusive, evidence-based evaluation frameworks in the digital higher education landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| Abstract: | This study aims to pilot a comprehensive internal quality evaluation model in a fully online, open, electronic, and distance education (OEDE) university. By applying the model at the case university, the research investigates how key stakeholders assess institutional quality across five core dimensions: organizational structure, education, research and innovation, ICT infrastructure, and support services. A concurrent mixed-methods design combined quantitative surveys (n = 1,198 valid responses) with qualitative interviews (n = 218), document analysis, and infrastructure observation. The internal evaluation was guided by a validated accreditation checklist (developed in our first publication) and questionnaire (introduced in our second publication) from earlier phases of this research. Stakeholders included students, faculty, administrators, alumni, employers, and partner institutions. Triangulation was used to ensure credibility and integration across data sources. The evaluation identified strong performance in digital leadership, course design, ICT infrastructure, and student support services in the case university. However, limitations were found in international collaboration, transformative educational technologies, faculty research opportunities, and emotional-cognitive support mechanisms. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility and value of applying a stakeholder-inclusive quality model in an OEDE context. The model provides a replicable tool for internal quality assurance in digital universities. Institutions can use it to align their practices with international standards while maintaining contextual sensitivity. This study, as the third in a series following two prior investigations, offers one of the first practical applications of a theoretically grounded accreditation model specifically designed for OEDE institutions. It bridges the gap between policy and practice, providing empirical insights into how quality assurance can be operationalized through inclusive, evidence-based evaluation frameworks in the digital higher education landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 13602357 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10639-026-13904-6 |
