Strategic review of online learning: final report

The Strategic Review of Online Learning in the vocational education and training (VET) sector was undertaken to address a regulatory risk identified in the Australian Skills Quality Authority's (ASQA's) Regulatory Strategy 2020-22 and in the 2021-22 Regulatory Risk Priorities. ASQA has undertaken this review to analyse the opportunities and risks of online learning and to identify the nature of their regulatory response. It has taken place at a time of growing importance of the sector's response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic, as well as digital technologies for...  [+] Show more

The Strategic Review of Online Learning in the vocational education and training (VET) sector was undertaken to address a regulatory risk identified in the Australian Skills Quality Authority's (ASQA's) Regulatory Strategy 2020-22 and in the 2021-22 Regulatory Risk Priorities. ASQA has undertaken this review to analyse the opportunities and risks of online learning and to identify the nature of their regulatory response. It has taken place at a time of growing importance of the sector's response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic, as well as digital technologies for innovative delivery of education services, and a skilled labour force identified as central to this growth.

The review engaged with students through focus groups, implemented a provider survey of the VET sector's use, experience, and perceptions of online learning jointly administered with the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), and consulted ASQA staff through a workshop and focus group series. ASQA also held a webinar series and published an insights paper series [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 145.1013, TD/TNC 147.647 and TD/TNC 147.648].

The review found that whilst quality VET can be delivered online, taking into consideration the requirements of the training product, the student cohort, the skills of the trainer and assessor, and the tools, technologies, and processes for delivering online, the challenges, opportunities and risks vary depending on those factors. There is no single issue or feature that is an indicator of greater or lesser risk to quality.

Edited excerpts from publication.