Several international organizations, among them ICDE, leading the development and research of quality assurance systems for online educational gathered at the first International Forum on Online Education: Quality Assurance, at the China World Hotel in Beijing Oct. 14-15.  

The Chinese online education market is worth RMB 14.4 billion (US$1.7 billion) according to a research report from iResearch, a Chinese IT online market research provider. As e-learning becomes more recognized with the popularity of Internet, its market scale is estimated to escalate to RMB 29.6 billion (US$3.6 billion) by 2007 However, maintaining and evaluating quality in this burgeoning global market is a challenge.

“This is a unique opportunity to hear from and speak with Chinese and international education leaders and learn how institutions can facilitate the growth of high-quality transnational online education”, said Christine Geith, forum co-chair and executive director of MSU Global.

Supported by CERNET-Blackboard and Polycom, forum participants met with leaders in Chinese higher education, quality assurance organizations and international experts leading pioneering programs and research in the field of educational quality assurance. Confirmed speakers include:

• Executive Director of the U.S. Higher Learning Commission;
• President of the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia;
• President of the Brazilian Association for Distance Learning, representing ABED and ICDE;
• President of the Virtual University of Mexico;
• Executive Dean of Distance Learning at Zhejiang University;
• Executive Dean of the Online College of Renmin University of China; and
• Vice President of Central China Normal University, among many others. 

Michigan State University was co-hosting the Forum with the China Education Association for International Exchange, the China Central Radio and TV University and the China National Center for Open & Distance Education.  

For more information about the forum visit: www.msuglobal.com.

Supporting Organizations: 
• University Continuing Education Association (www.ucea.edu)
• International Council for Open and Distance Learning (www.icde.org)
• National University Telecommunications Network  (www.nutn.edu)
• Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications  (www.wcet.info)
• Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia ( www.odlaa.org)
• Association for Brazilian Distance Education (www2.abed.org.br/)   
• North American Council for Online Learning (www.nacol.org)

29 November 2006