The e-learning movement as a process of quality improvement in education: the case of the University of Cyprus

Abstract

Quality in education has been regognized as an issue that should guide our efforts for improvement for many years. eLearning is the latest attempt to take advantage of developments in technology to improve learning. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of establishing a theory of elearning, the value of design patterns, and the possible scenarios of implementation by higher education institutions attempting to use new technologies in their courses of study. A survey concerning the elearning paradigm that was conducted at the University of Cyprus (UCY) at the beginning of the spring semester 2003 is presented. The main purpose of this survey was to report on the views and experiences of the UCY students and faculty members regarding elearning implementation in university courses. Data collection was accomplished through a specially designed questionnaire administered to 1938 students and 46 faculty members. Ten faculty members were also interviewed for more in-depth analysis. Based on the results of the survey, we propose a series of possible actions which could form the basis for developing a vital elearning policy through continuous improvement of the university’s teaching program.