European Quality Observatory

The European Quality Observatory (EQO) was selected in 2002, and funded by the European Commission from 2003 until 2005 under the eLearning initiative.

The EQO web site is at http://www.eqo.info/

Summary

The European Quality Observatory (EQO) was an internet-based repository implemented as a portal which promoted the use of appropriate quality management (QM), quality assurance (QA), and quality assessment (QS) concepts for E-Learning in different communities. The main objective was to provide a central facility for developers, managers, administrators, decision makers, and end-users to find a suitable approach for their organizations’ needs. Especially national, regional, and local needs and requirements would be included in the observatory, leading to a European Quality Community. The main objectives can be summarized as following:

• providing a conceptual framework for the description and harmonization of quality approaches;
• implementing and developing of Standards: The project will be directly linked to standardization groups of CEN/ISSS (Workshop Learning Technologies) and ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36 in order to directly transfer results from standards committees to the users and vice versa. One of the main outputs is the development of a European Quality Framework, a harmonized reference model for E-Learning Quality;
• providing an internet-based repository for quality management, quality assurance, and quality assessment approaches in the field of E-Learning;
• structuring, comparing, and reusing quality approaches for the field of E-Learning;
• providing recommendations for the use of quality management, quality assurance, and quality assessment approaches for various target groups (e.g., end users, HE administrators, developers) and for specific purposes (e.g., process improvement, product transparency, domain-specific purposes, national/regional/local needs);
• providing services to support the implementation of quality approaches in organizations. Users will be able to use internet-based applications that they can implement quality approaches (such as process models, quality criteria) adapted to their context, objectives, and experiences;
• establishing and supporting a European community of practice in order to reach a common understanding of the concept of “E-Learning Quality”.

The main steps towards a working community of practice and a complete repository can be described as following:

• collection of Quality Approaches based on the results of the CWA Quality Assurance of the CEN/ISSS Workshop Learning Technologies;
• conceptual Design/Classification of approaches: The approaches collected in phase 1 will be classified in a classification scheme which provides a structured approach to search and retrieval purposes. The classification scheme is also based on the classification of the CWA Quality Assurance of the CEN/ISSS Workshop Learning Technologies. This classification contains the following attributes: general data (e.g., name, description, source), methodology, target groups, processes, results/products, assessment criteria, and standards; eLearning Quality in EU Universities
• development of the quality repository, search engine and adaptation tool. Here users can adapt generic quality approaches (e.g., process models, product criteria) to the needs and requirements of their organization.;
• community and expertise;
• evaluation.

Outcomes

The EQO web site provides a database for strategies (Quality Approaches) and services (Quality Services) concerning quality in e-learning.

Main outcomes of the project also includes documents such as: European Quality Observatory. The EQO Model; The European Quality Observatory Portal. User’s Manual; and a study entitled "Use and dissemination of quality approaches in European e-learning". The documents can be downloaded at http://www.eqo.info/

The European Quality Observatory is now integrated into the European Foundation for Quality in E-learning (EFQUEL).

Partners

• University of Duisburg-Essen - Germany - Co-ordinator
• MMB – Institut für Medien- und Kompetenzforschung - Germany
• Ecole Nationale de Ponts et Chaussées - France
• European Schoolnet - Belgium
• Centre for Research and Technology Hellas- Greece

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