Quality benchmarks for Open & Distance learning system for higher education

With higher education becoming a globally competitive service, there is an urgent need for every institution to achieve quality benchmarks, standards and recognition. The International level effort to democratize the socio economic services including education provided by various level of government and the growing realization among the masses about the economic value of education have for long been exerting considerable pressure for expansion of higher education system in Asian Countries. But in many countries the resources do not permit scaling up of the needed infrastructure and human resources to make available the conventional higher educational facilities to the aspiring learners. Open and distance learning system is coming up as effective mode of education for everyone and as an alternate to conventional higher educational system. The development of open and distance learning system from the stage of print material oriented correspondence education to the stage of self instructional packages with an integrated multi-media approach, and incorporation of interactive communication technologies, leading towards building of virtual learning institutions. The application of new interactive communication technology in providing flexible and cost effective programme through distance mode is now widely recognized and appreciated. This paper suggests on as, how to set and accomplish the quality benchmarks in different spheres of academic excellence to ensure the quality delivery of open and distance education in this competitive era.