E-Learning quality assurance is an act of symbolic control in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

¹ Middle East College, Department of Management Studies, P.O Box PC 124, Al Rusayl, Muscat, Oman
² Munster Technological University-Shanon Applied Biotechnology, Tralee, Ireland
³ Modern College of Business and Science, Muscat Oman

masengu@mec.edu.om
muchenjerai@gmail.com
Benson.Ruzive@mcbs.edu.om
azader@mec.edu.om

Abstract

There has been a dominance of e-learning Quality Assurance (QA) discourse since the adoption and increased usage of e-learning by HEIs. Research has shown that majority of graduates from HEIs were failing to meet industry expectation due to explicit mismatch between industry expectation and HEIs offering. This study aims to establish how e learning QA can act as a symbolic control in HEIs. The study used systematic literature review research methodology to understand the how e-learning quality assurance can be guaranteed in HEIs. The results of the study proposed a framework to be adopted and used by HEIs for e-learning QA. Of interest to note in the framework is the -e-learning QA was difficulty in HEIs due to the following aspects financial resources, culture, technological advancement, IT skills, leadership, staff retention, resistance to change and employee involvement. This study recommends that HEIs need to put the much-needed infrastructure, financial resources, develop the IT skills and benchmark their practices with international standards to effectively ensure e-learning QA.