IQAT
IQAT - pronounced "eye-cat" - is a benchmarking and quality enhancement methodology developed by Hezel Associates, a well-known firm of e-learning consultants, in conjunction with a number of university partners. The methodology was formally launched in June 2006.
It describes itself as "a web-based tool to track and benchmark institutional data systematically across time and among peer institutions".
The was undertaken in partnership with NUTN, the National University Telecommunications Network, and with sponsorship from Cisco Systems. NUTN has for some time had a major interest in quality and more recently benchmarking, as demonstrated for example by the topics and speakers at their 2006 conference. In particular there was a launch presentation of IQAT. One of the leading organisations in NUTN is Michigan State University, who have a leading role in organising an upcoming (October 2006) conference on quality in Beijing, China, entitled the First International Forum on Online Education: Quality Assurance, with a range of quality and benchmarking experts as speakers.
It is a commercial and proprietary tool. For additional information, inquiries should be directed to Hezel Associates.
Read more about this topic: Benchmarking E-learning