Analysis of the evaluation models of distance postgraduate programs in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. Today, increasingly, in Latin America and the Caribbean, it is assumed, as a legal imperative, that postgraduate programs, offered by higher institutional education, on-site as well as off-site, meet the quality criteria assigned by the nationals agencies for evaluation and accreditation of quality, in the region. Since off-site postgraduate degrees are increasingly important to meet society’s needs and expectations in regards to training and specialization, it is imperative to clarify the framework that supports the evaluation of the quality of off-site postgraduate degrees in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHOD. To this end, a comparative analysis of the models for quality assurance of off-site postgraduate degrees has been conducted, designed by the agencies of evaluation and accreditation of quality in the region. RESULTS. The results show, as main features, the models’ unity on the approach to quality assurance, with the dual aim of developing the quality commitment and continuous improvement, from the internal evaluation perspective, together with the commitment with transparency and accountability with society, in its external evaluation aspect. DISCUSSION. It verifies that the National quality assurance of distance education, and off-site postgraduate programs in particular, apply the same evaluation models, with similar foundations and procedures to ensure the quality standards of the institutions and their programs and, thus, facilitate graduate mobility in the area.