The virtual university and the quality assuranceprocess: Recruiting and retaining the right faculty

The paper commences with a brief summary of the literature on e-learning in higher education and the quality assurance process. This is followed by an overview of the Universitas 21 Global quality assurance framework. Within this framework there is particular emphasis on the process governing the appointment (and re-appointment) of adjunct faculty; a process that incorporates four discrete steps: (i) recruitment; (ii) training and accreditation; (iii) supervision and mentoring; and (iv) reflection and teaching performance evaluation. Importantly, the design of the framework ensures that this element of the internal quality assurance process provides, not only an enhanced learning experience for students, but also rich longitudinal data for the purposes of external verification of quality and standards. The paper concludes that while the online environment certainly presents new challenges for tried and tested quality assurance processes, it also provides opportunities to usher in new guidelines capable of bringing about a significant improvement in standards.