Centre for Quality Management and Research & Innovation.

The Center's objectives are:

1. To provide Quality Assurance services including planning, facilitating, supporting and monitoring OUM’s quality assurance processes.
2. To provide Pre-award Management Services for research and innovation including contractual and information dissemination.
3. To adopt strategies to gradually grow from a cost centre to a cost recovery centre in the shortest possible time.

The Centre consist of two major operational units:

• Unit for Quality Management (UQM) - Is responsible for all quality initiatives at OUM, and facilitates with other responsibility centers to ensure that all the university’s operational processes are quality assured. Services include quality assurance, best practices and benchmarking, SOPs and ISO, documentation and database, and consultancy.
   
• Unit for Research & Innovation - Is responsible in the management and planning of research and innovation in the university. The research focus areas are:
   
  • Online Assessment – quality moderation, satisfaction of the online discussion forum, quality participation, and state of readiness.
  • Effective Student Support Services - Online support services and Service Centre.
  • Standards of e-Learning Management System - Best practices, Specification for learning materials, and Learning Content Management System.
  • Open and Distance Learning Pedagogy - Management of internet based open learning, Virtual learning, and Blended and hybrid pedagogy.
  • Assessing Methods for Adult Learners - Learning style, Instruction / teaching method, Learning discipline, and Psychological and motivational drive.
  • Effective Use of Learning Technologies - Technology sharing, Reusability and practically for learning objects, and Instructional use of learning objects.
  • University Leadership and Management in ODL - Change Management, Risk Management, and Creative Management.

OUM has a clear vision and plan with the Centre for Quality Management and Research & Innovation, which hopefully will benefit OUM and other educational institutions in the future. Especially, their research focus areas will be interesting to keep an eye on in the coming months and years.