Abstract:

The use of technology to support teaching and to maximize the learning experiences has triggered significant changes in the global Higher Education (HE) landscape. Technology-enhanced Learning (TEL) has become a common feature of Higher Education nowadays. The issues related to the TEL quality assurance (QA), such as quality culture, quality and change management, accreditation and quality standards are more than ever on the HE agenda.

An important mechanism for the QA in education and promotion of education programs to a new qualitative level is accreditation complying with international standards, which enables to increase the competitiveness of educational services and raise the credibility and image of the Higher Education Institution (HEI).

Reform of teaching methodologies through the introduction of a National Quality Framework in blended learning by guaranteeing the improvement, development and implementation of accreditation standards, guidelines and procedures for QA of TEL courses and study programs at a national level has been recognised as a key priority for Kazakhstan.

The current paper presents an educational concept and eLearning methodology developed to provide training for relevant members of Kazakh educational and public authorities responsible for accreditation and evaluation of TEL programs at the institutional level by HEIs’ human resources capacity building on accreditation and delivery of TEL.

The improvement of Kazakh HEIs human resources' capacity will support the modernization of the HE in the terms of TEL delivery, the implementation of e-learning methodologies and training programmes, as well as the development of clear guidelines and transparent procedures for Quality Assurance in convergence with the expertise and best practices of European HE and in line with ESG (European quality standards) in addition to domestic compulsory standard of education.

The methodology development is supported by the European Commission in the framework of Erasmus + CBHE project “Kazakh universities to foster quality assurance processes in technology-enhanced learning” (KUTEL) where are involved organisations from four EU countries and more than ten Kazakh organisations among which Ministry of Education and Science, national accreditation bodies, and Universities. In the paper are described some of the main outcomes achieved so far as well as the key steps which are foreseen for the complete concept implementation.

Keywords:

Quality Assurance, Technology-enhanced Learning, Higher Education, ESG.