Experts tackle the challenges of online education at UNAB

At a critical time for the future of higher education, the Andrés Bello University (UNAB) was the host of the 1st Ibero-American Congress for Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Trends in Online Educationan event that brought together experts and authorities from different institutions and countries to discuss digital transformation and the quality of education.

“We are very happy and proud to set up an event like this. Online education is an already established trend that has been strengthened in the pandemic and is currently being used in universities around the world. How do agencies guarantee that quality? How do we get around the problems? How do we compare the graduate profiles and how do we guarantee university life? They are an important part of the challenges that this method imposes on us,” said the The head of UNAB, Julio Castro, highlighting the importance of global communication in quality assurance.

he is The Undersecretary of Higher Education, Mr. Víctor Orellana Calderón, He also offered his vision of digital transformation in the region. In addition, he pointed out the need to accept a reality where enrollment in Higher Education in Chile tends to be stable and in which online education plays a vital role.

“Distance education represents one of the most decisive trends of change and growth at this time. It is essential that our Higher Education renewal policy emphasizes learning from online methods and how we ensure quality in it,” Orellana explained.

For his part, the Vice Chancellor of Quality Assurance at UNAB, Carmen Gloria Jiménez, he highlighted the importance of collaboration in the national and foreign education sector to strengthen online education.

“We are very happy that this event includes universities, professional institutes, and technical training centers from different regions of the country, but we also have many foreign partners. We believe that it is necessary to meet again, to talk again, to resume effective alliances to be able to strengthen everything that is in online education,” said Jimenez .

Innovation, quality and inclusion in the technological age

During the conference, current trends in higher education and the need to adapt teaching strategies to an increasingly digital world were discussed. The panelists addressed how innovation and quality are fundamental to ensuring equity and inclusion in online education.

he is François Staring, analyst at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), he opened the discussion with a review of the group’s policies and recommendations to encourage technological innovation in higher education. The impact of digital transformation on educational models, curriculum design and educational management was analyzed, highlighting challenges such as the digital divide and data privacy, as well as examples of international good practices in the use of technologies that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality.

The Prof. Yuma Inzolia, Director of Capacity Development at UNESCO IESALCon the need to guarantee inclusion and equity in online education. His conference focused on how Open Educational Resources (OER) can democratize knowledge and the importance of teacher training to create inclusive digital environments, based on successful examples from Latin America.

he is Prof. Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education at the Qatar Foundationwe discussed the opportunities and challenges of online education, focusing on how to maintain academic quality despite the increased adoption of digital platforms. He emphasized the importance of innovation as a driver for continuous improvement in online education and international cooperation as a key tool for increasing quality standards.

The Dra. Idna Corbett, representative of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), presentation of his organization’s quality standards, detailing how they promote institutional transparency and promote excellence in in-person and online programs. He highlighted the positive impact on institutional indicators, such as retention and student satisfaction.

New strategies to ensure academic quality

In this context, experts presented different strategies that institutions can implement to ensure that the quality of education is maintained, even in virtual environments. These strategies include teacher training and the use of emerging technologies.

he is Dr. José Antonio Pérez de la Calle, international expert on internal quality management systems from Spainstudy of the implementation of quality management systems in higher education, highlighting their importance in the continuous improvement and external recognition of academic programs. He also addressed how data analysis can inform more effective educational decisions.

The Dr Racheal Brooks, Director of Quality Assurance Implementation Solutions at Quality Matters, have presented the quality assessment model in online education, emphasizing student-centered course design and continuous improvement of these programs through feedback loops, which have a positive impact on learning and retention ​student.

The Nati Cabrera, Director of the Master’s Degree in Quality Assessment and Management of Higher Education at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), He shared his university’s experience in online education, highlighting the success of the Master’s Degree in Quality Assessment and Management of Higher Education. His approach was based on flexibility and personalization of learning, supported by innovative digital technologies.

Mary Loder, Arizona State University’s Manager of Online Learning, Professional Development & Training EdPlus Instructional Design and New Media, consider the concept of intentional design in creating online courses, a pedagogical approach that maximizes learning through carefully planned decisions. He emphasized the importance of adapting courses to different learning styles and using technological tools that enable interaction and flexibility.

Management models in higher education

The panelists also explored management models that ensure the quality and coherence of academic programs. These approaches focus on flexibility and personalization of learning, as well as the impact of distance learning on student success.

The Head of Digital Transformation at the Universidad de los Andes (ULA – Colombia), Mg. Veronica Suarez Riaño, presentation of his university’s digital curriculum management model, highlighting how to ensure the quality and coherence of online and blended programs. It also examined the impact of expanding digital provision on student success and the quality of higher education.

The Prof. María Josefa Rubio, Vice President of Open Mode and Distance of the Private Technical University of Loja (UTPL – Ecuador)he explained his university’s focus on distance education, emphasizing the importance of quality research tools and expanding access to education for rural communities in Ecuador. He confirmed the role of CALED in improving the quality of education in the area.

he is Dr. Alexis Olmedo Navarro, General Director of Online Education at UNAB, presentation of the university’s innovative model for digitizing academic contributions in engineering, highlighting the use of interactive technologies and innovative teaching strategies that have led to international accreditation of engineering programs, such as the Euro-Inf Seal.

Finally, the Dra. Ailsa Crum, of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education of the United Kingdom, address best practices for a successful transition to hybrid learning, highlighting academic integrity, student engagement, and the impact of emerging technologies such as next-generation artificial intelligence.

Digital transformation is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to rethink educational models and strengthen quality standards at a global level. Therefore, the participants confirmed their intention to collaborate in future international initiatives that will provide access to quality higher education.