ACDE

The African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) is a continental educational organisation, comprising African universities and other higher education institutions committed to expanding access to quality education and training through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) including e-Learning. Formally launched in January 2004 at Egerton University, Kenya, it is registered under Kenyan law as an international educational non-profit organisation, headquartered at Kenyatta University, Nairobi.

As a unifying body of distance education providers and practitioners in Africa, ACDE facilitates pooling of resources, shapes continental policies on higher education, promotes quality in ODL provisions, and fosters continental and global collaboration in response to African Governments’ call to use ODL for reconstruction and development.

Its vision is to be a major advocate for open and distance learning in Africa. ACDE’s mandate is to promote collaboration, research, policy, and quality assurance in ODL and e-learning for expanding access to quality education and training. It fulfils its mandate through capacity building, collaboration, partnership, and advocacy, serving as the lead implementing agency for Open, Distance, and eLearning in Africa (https://acde-afri.org/)

ACDE QAAA

The ACDE Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency (ACDE-QAAA) is the outcome of a decision made at a Stakeholders’ meeting at the University of South Africa in February 2008 to address ODL challenges in Africa and meet continental education goals.

It’s an independent body for African ODL and higher education institutions, developing an African Quality Assurance Framework, criteria, and standards. ACDE-QAAA enhances institutional quality mechanisms through monitoring, auditing, and advising on programmes, providing a platform for quality assurance, accreditation, articulation, and credit transfer within African ODL and higher education institutions.

The goal is to ensure acceptable quality assurance practices through consultation, partnership, and collaboration, aligning with EFA, CESA, and SDGs for inclusive and quality education in Africa. The ACDE QAAA is hosted by the National Open University of Nigeria, following the Federal government’s approval in 2009.

ACDE QAAA’s services include:

  • Providing access to internationally recognised code of practices, policies and standards, and criteria for the operation and conduct of ODeL in Africa
  • Enhancing institutional, national, regional and continental quality assurance systems for African ODeL;
  • Building capacity of higher ODL institutions in quality development and management for African ODeL;
  • Providing a platform for collaboration and partnerships with other international distance learning accreditation agencies to improve quality management and practice; and
  • Facilitating ease of credit transfer across African ODeL and other higher institutions.

    Our Vision

    To be a leader in the promotion of quality and excellence in the practice of ODL in Africa

    Our Mission

    To formulate policies and implement strategies through consultation, partnership and collaboration that will embed a culture of quality and adoption of good practices in ODL processes and delivery leading to qualifications and awards that engender stakeholder confidence.

    Goals and Objectives

    • Integrate an indigenous model of quality assurance and accreditation that will position African ODL in the global perspective
    • Develop a broad mandate and governance structure for a continental quality assurance and accreditation agency for ODL in African higher education.
    • Develop a broad framework for collaboration in the development of ODL quality assurance and code of practices
    • Design instruments for monitoring and evaluating quality assurance practices in African ODL and higher education institutions.

    Activities.

    • Capacity building and training workshops
    • Programme reviews and institutional audits
    • Engage with national regulatory bodies
    • Training and Certification of institutions and their programmes
    • Articulation and credit transfer