Summary of Evidence

to the

Education and Skills Select Committee

of the House of Commons

The Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC) is the principle body for the assessment, recognition and accreditation of quality in open and distance learning (ODL) in the UK.

These pages give the text of the evidence from ODL QC to the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee enquiry into Individual Learning Accounts.     It consists of this single page summary, a main paper amplifying that summary, and links to the online versions of those supporting documents submitted as appendices.

Summary

1. No government scheme to support learning can sidestep quality issues.
   
   
2. The administration of any new scheme should:
   • reserve the right to limit access to the scheme by providers;
   • specify the attributes of providers seeking registration;
   • encourage registered providers to seek further accreditation by the appropriate body;
   • provide information to help learners differentiate good quality providers from bad;
   • develop a policy on complaints against providers;
   • put in place a mechanism for handling complaints;
   
   
3. To promote quality, all providers with access to any new scheme should be:
   • asked to make a commitment to quality;
   • required to explore and encouraged to seek accreditation;
   • required to enter into a contract with learners which includes a learning agreement;
   • required to have their own complaints procedures in place.
   
   
4. Quality in open and distance learning can be assessed, but requires special techniques.
   
   
5. There should be more consultation with appropriate bodies in Open and Distance Learning.
   
   
6. ODL QC is the appropriate body to assess and accredit providers of open and distance learning.

1. Main Paper
2. ODL QC Buyer’s Guide to Distance Learning
3. Learning Agreements
4. Standards in Open and Distance Learning
5. Accreditation Process