Key prerequisites for implementing online and hybrid teaching

2. Institutional e-learning strategy and policy

Institutional strategy and e-learning policy are key documents that enable the systematic, high-quality and sustainable development of digital education in higher education and other educational institutions. It is a planned approach by which institutions define their goals, development directions, operational procedures and standards in the field of online and hybrid teaching. These documents form the basis for the effective inclusion of technology in the educational process, and their importance grows with the increasing need for flexible, accessible and high-quality forms of teaching and learning.

Institutional e-learning strategy

An institutional e-learning strategy is a long-term planning document that sets out the vision, mission and goals of digital education within a particular institution, whether it is a university or a higher education institution. It defines the direction in which the institution wants to develop in order to provide modern forms of teaching that meet the needs of students and society.

The strategy includes a clearly defined vision and mission in the field of e-learning. The vision refers to the desired future state, for example, to become a leading institution in digitally supported education, while the mission describes the purpose and core values that guide activities in this area.

Such a document must include objectives such as increasing the accessibility and flexibility of teaching, strengthening the digital competences of teachers and students, and encouraging innovative forms of teaching. The strategy also sets priorities, such as the development of high-quality digital teaching materials, the implementation and integration of learning management systems (such as Moodle), and the promotion of open educational resources.

In addition, the strategy must provide for the necessary resources and infrastructure, from technical equipment, servers and software solutions to technical and pedagogical support. A monitoring and evaluation framework is also important, which determines how the effectiveness of the strategy will be measured, for example through the analysis of student success, the evaluation of e-courses or the level/number of teacher participation in professional development.

E-learning policy 

While the strategy sets goals and long-term direction, the e-learning policy elaborates concrete rules, procedures and guidelines that ensure consistent and high-quality implementation of e-learning in practice. It is based on a strategic framework and enables its operational implementation.

An e-learning policy usually includes rules for implementing online and hybrid teaching, including technical and pedagogical requirements, duration and dynamics of activities, and forms of communication. The document always lists quality standards, such as mandatory elements of e-courses, minimum technical requirements for teaching, and recommended teaching and assessment methods.

The policy also clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders, teachers, students, administrators and technical support. This includes, for example, the obligation of teachers to regularly update content, respond to student inquiries and provide interactive activities, while students take responsibility for active participation and independent learning.

The document must also include instructions for the protection of personal data (especially GDPR) and respect for copyright, which are particularly important in the digital environment, as well as guidelines for the evaluation and administration of distance exams, which must ensure academic integrity and reliability of learning outcomes.

Finally, the policy implies and encompasses support for the professional development of teachers through planned systematic training, workshops, mentoring programs and the possibility of acquiring certificates in the field of e-learning.

The importance of e-learning strategy and policy

Having a clear e-learning strategy and policy is key to ensuring quality and effective distance learning. Such documents help teachers understand what is expected of them, what options are available to them and how they can improve their teaching. They help students understand how classes will take place, what kind of support is available and what they can expect from the digital educational process.

In addition, the strategy and policy enable the efficient development of technical and pedagogical infrastructure, foster coordination within the institution and ensure compliance with national and European quality standards, such as the Quality Assurance Standards in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). Ultimately, these guidelines form the basis for a modern, inclusive and innovative education system that responds to the challenges of the digital age.

Examples of documents

• University of Zagreb e-learning strategy
• University of Pula online teaching strategy
• E-learning strategy of FOI UNIZG