Uma Avaliação da Importância da Gestão da Qualidade na Prática da Educação a Distância

Resumo (EN)

The aim of this paper is to bring out the discussion about the importance of Quality Management in the Distance Learning process. The growth of this genre (Distance Learning ) aroused the interest of many institutions of higher education which created their own models of management and regulation, a fact which prompted the Education Ministry on the need to create a document that regulates it. Thus the creation of a Quality Reference by Education Ministry allowed these institutions to adopt collective practices, what made the scenery to lead to a single model of distance learning. Thus the creation of a Quality Reference by Education Ministry allowed the institutions to adopt collective practices, which made the scene to lead to a single model of distance education. All this change, linking by the importance of management quality for the institutions of higher education that day by day tend to be concerned about its sustainability in order to remain on the market, entertained the idea of a detailed study of the relevance and importance of these aspects in the institutions. This paper builds on an extensive study that includes:
a) the theory of quality management: the tools, principles and precepts, concepts, history, etc.;
b) the distance learning: historical development, learning techniques, legislation, interactivity, etc..
To investigate this interface, it was created an assessment tool with questions for the reference of quality and tools of these, referred to the managers of higher education institutions active to the Distance learning regulated by the Ministry of Education. The results show how institutions of higher education face the quality issue of its management and services that offer distance learning, showing aspects of emphasis and also the opportunities for improvement. lt is hoped that this work can contribute effectively to improving the management processes of these institutions.