QUALITY ASSURANCE OF WEB SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ICT ENHANCED LEARNER SUPPORT IN OPEN AND DISTANCE INSTITUTIONS

ABSTRACT

Open and distance learning is becoming more and more prevalent in most developing countries and is enrolling increasing numbers of learners, particularly at first degree and diploma levels, but quality assurance is still very limited. Open and distance learning institutions have their own standard of quality and some ways of quality assuring their activities including the quality of security infrastructure and ICT based learner support services. Learners Support Services are an important part of Distance Educational system. Since the learners in ODL system are not directly involved in the regular classroom teaching-learning process having direct interaction with the teachers regularly, they are provided with adequate Learners Support Services. The main objective of this study is to identify the quality assurance practices in place in the case ODL institution and how stakeholders perceive the implementation of these quality policies and practices in comparison with standards. The study focused on quality assurance in the use of information and communication technology, ICT being the bedrock of distance learning institution as delivery of most programmes these days are ICT based. The study used applied survey methodology to elicit information from stakeholders on the quality assurance system on ICT utilization in the area of security and ICT based learner support in the case institution. The National Open University of Nigeria was used as a case study with staff and student as respondents. The following hypothesis were deduce, Ho – There is no significant relationship between security/Quality Assurance and open and distance learning (ODL). And Ha – There is significant relationship between security/Quality assurance and open and distance learning (ODL) institutions. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS). The outcome of the study is expected to benefit authorities of open and distance institutions by making their quality assurance practices as explicit and as systematised as possible. The outcome will provide sound quality assurance system that can lead to quality ODL provisioning in ICT-based learner support and security of ICT infrastructure.