Using Informal Collaboration to Develop Quality Assurance Processes for eLearning in Developing Countries: The Case of the University of Botswana and the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre

Collaboration among institutions of higher education involves the sharing of financial, administrative and infrastructural resources with others through a formal memorandum of understanding. There are occasions where due to bureaucratic or political barriers, a formal collaborative arrangement may not be possible, however, academic partnerships may foster informal collaboration or cooperation among institutions. This paper examines one such informal collaboration existing between the University of Botswana and The University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre. The authors share the informal collaborative model used to develop a quality assurance tool for eLearning and compare approaches in eLearning course development and quality assurance procedures at both institutions.