Benchmarking is becoming a more and more commonly used method for quality assurance and enhancement in higher education today. The aim of this study was to explore the impact and value of benchmarking e-learning in universities. Two European benchmarking initiatives, E-xcellence+ through the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities [EADTU] and an e-learning benchmarking exercise through the European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities [ESMU], were studied using an exploratory multiple case study method and cross-case analysis of the findings. The findings indicated the value and impact of a variety of aspects of benchmarking e-learning on different levels, and stressed the need for a holistic and contextual approach as both benchmarking and e-learning are complex and comprehensive phenomena. This study also shows that benchmarking, in line with national and international quality boards/agencies, is a powerful tool for making improvements to teaching and learning in higher education.
Bacsich, P. (2009a). Benchmarking e-Learning in United Kingdom universities—The methodologies. In T. Mayes, D. Morrison, H. Mellar, P. Bulen and M. Oliver (Eds.), Transforming higher education through technology enhanced learning (pp. 90-106). Bristol: The Higher Academy.
Bacsich, P. (2009b). Benchmarking e-learning in United Kingdom universities: Lessons learned from and for the international context. Proceedings of the 23rd ICDE World Conference on Open Learning and Distances Education Including the 2009 EADTU Annual Conference. M-ICDE Conference Flexible Education for All: Open- Global-Innovative. Maastricht.
Bates, T. (2009). Re: Using technology to improve the cost-effectivenes of the academy. [Web log message]. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/10/10/using-technology-to-improve-the-cost-effectiveness-of-the-academy-part-1/
Bates, T. (2010). Re: Strategic thinking about e-learning. [Web log message]. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://www.tonybates.ca/2010/06/11/strategic-thinking-about-e-learning/
Bonk, C. J. (2009). The world is open: How web technology is revolutionizing education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint.
Comba, V., Ossiannilsson, E., Landgren, L., Blok, R., Martiens, F. J., Kjaer, C., & Christensen, I.-M. (2010). A benchmarking exercise for quality blended learning. A challenge for European universities in the twentyfirst century. Proceedings of EADTU Annual Conference, Zermatt, 55-75.
Conole, G. (2010). Learning design: Making practice explicit. ConnectED Conference 28 June, 2010. Sydney. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://www.slideshare.net/grainne/connect-ed-conole
Creswell, J. W., & Clarke, P. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Ehlers, U.-D., & Pawlowski, J. (2006). Quality in European e-learning: An Introduction. In U.-D. Ehlers and J. Pawlowski (Eds.), Handbook on quality and standardization in e-learning (pp. 1-3). Berlin: Springer. doi:10.1007/3-540-32788-6_1
Ehlers, U.-D., & Schneckenberg, D. (2010). Introduction: Changing cultures in higher education. In U.-D. Ehlers and D. Schneckenberg (Eds.), Changing cultures in higher education (pp. 1-14). Berlin: Springer-Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-03582-1_1
European Commission (2009). The Bologna process 2020—The European higher education area in the decade. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://portal.bolognaexperts.net/files/Leuven_Louvain-la-Neuve_Communique_April_2009.pdf
Elliott, J. G., Stemler, S. E., Sternberg, R. J., Grigorenko, E. L., & Hoffman, N. (2011). The socially skilled teacher and the development of tacit knowledge. British Educational Research Journal, 1, 83-104. doi:10.1080/01411920903420016
Giger, P. (2010). Conversation and figuration from the horizontality of the 2.0 decade. Ph.D. Thesis, Karlskrona: Blekinge Institute of Technology.
H?m?l?inen, K., Jessen, A., Kaartinen-Koutaniemi, M., & Kristoffersen, D. (2003). Benchmarking in the improvements of higher education. Helsinki: ENQA [The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education].
H?yrup, S. (2004). Reflection as a core process in organizational learning. The Journal of Workplace Learning, 8, 42-54.
Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., & Haywood, K. (2011). The 2011 horizon report. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
Johnson, M., & Seborg, D. (Eds.) (2007). Benchmarking concepts: An introduction. Process control performance assessment benchmarking concepts: An introduction. London: Springer.
McLoughlin, C., & Lee, M. J. W. (2008). The three P’s of pedagogy for the networked society: Pesonalization, participation and productivity. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 1, 10-27.
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, M. A. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Los Angeles, California: Sage Publications Inc.
Moriarty, J. P. (2008). A theory of benchmarking. Lincoln: Lincoln University.
Moriarty, J. P., & Smallman, C. (2009). En route to a theory on benchmarking. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 4, 484-503.
NAHE [The Swedish National Agency for Higher Education] (2008). E-learning quality: Aspects and criteria. Solna: H?gskoleverket.
Ossiannilsson, E. (2010). Benchmarking e-learning in higher education. Findings from EADTU’s E-xcellence+ project and ESMU’s benchmarking exercise in e-learning. In M. Soinila, & M. Stalter (Eds.), Quality assurance of e-learning (pp. 32-44). Helsinki: ENQA [The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education].
Ossiannilsson, E. (in press). Benchmarking on e-learning in universities: Impacts and values, European perspectives. International Journal of Management in Education. Special Issue on Virtual University.
Ossiannilsson, E. (2011). European experiences on the e-xcellence benchmarking initiative by EADTU. In W. Aung (Ed.), iNEER Special Volume: Innovations 2011—World innovations in engineering education and research. Manuscript accepted for publication.
Ossiannilsson, E., & Landgren, L. (in press). Quality in e-learning—A conceptual framework based on experiences from three international benchmarking projects at Lund Univesity, Sweden. Journal of Computer Assisted Learnin, Special Issue on Quality in e-learning.
O’Reilly, T., & Batelle, J. (2009). Web Squared: Web 2.0 Five Years On. Special Report. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://assets.en.oreilly.com/1/event/28/web2009_websqared-whitepaper.pdf
Re.ViCa. (2009). Bibliography of benchmarking. URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://www.virtualcampuses.eu/index.php/Bibliography_of_benchmarking
Sangra, A. (2008). Technologies in university: Models, problems and challenges. Ph.D. Thesis, Tarragona: Universitas Rovira i Virgili.
Soinila, M., & Stalter, M. (Eds.) (2010). Quality assurance of e-learning. Helsinki: ENQA [The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education].
Schreurs, B. (Ed.) (2009). Critical success factors. Reviewing the virtual campus phenomenon. The rise of large-scale e-Learning initiatives worldwide (pp. 59-84). Leuven: EuroPACE ivzw
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning, 1, URL (last checked 10 June 2011) http://www.itdl.org/journal/jan_05/article01.htm..
Ubachs, G. (2009). E-xcellence quality assessment for e-learning. Heerlen: EADTU [European Association of Distance Teaching Universities].
Van Vught, F., Brandenburg, U., & Burquel, N. (Eds.) (2008a). Benchmarking in European higher education. Findings of a two year EU-funded project. Brussels: ESMU [European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities].
Van Vught, F., Brandenburg, U., & Burquel, N. (Eds.) (2008b). A practical guide. Benchmarking in European higher education. Brussels: ESMU [European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities].
Williams, K., & Brown, T. (2009). E-xcellence site visit report, Lund University. Heerlen: EADTU [European Association of Distance Teaching Universities].
Williams, K., & Rotheram, B. (2010). Report. Benchmarking Exercise on E-learning. Brussels: ESMU [European Centre for Strategic Management of Universities].
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case Study Research. Design and Methods. Los Angeles, California: Sage Publications, Inc.
Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study research. Design and methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.