New Approaches to Quality and Standards for New Forms and Modes of Learning?

Abstract

So my title is: New Approaches to Quality and Standards for New Forms and Modes of Learning? There is a question mark at the end of the title. Whether new forms and modes of learning actually require new approaches to quality and standards is a basic question. Some would argue that quality is quality and standards are standards; so that if you assure quality and measure standards properly new modes and forms of learning should not require new approaches.// Let's park that question for a moment. I want first to explain why it's a pleasure to be in Canberra again after a gap of only three months, and then to expand on the honour of addressing you at this AQUA Forum.// After that I will look at four new forms and modes of learning in order to ask whether they need new approaches to quality and standards. Those forms and modes are: first, degree mills; second, private for-profit provision; third, open and distance learning; and, fourth, open educational resources. But first, a few more words about Canberra and AUQA.