1. Purpose and Scope
This document sets out the institutional standards behind Brussels College's online and hybrid delivery of its qualifications, including the NCC Education Level 3 International Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies (L3IFDHES). Where the companion Online Standards for Teaching sets out what is expected of individual tutors, this document covers what Brussels College as an institution provides and governs to make that teaching possible.
These standards are adapted from the National Standards for Quality Online Programs (nsqol.org), a widely used institutional benchmark framework, re-framed for Brussels College's context as an independent higher education provider delivering via Google Classroom and Google Workspace for Education.
2. Mission, Governance and Leadership
2.1 Mission
Brussels College's online and hybrid delivery exists to widen access to its qualifications for learners who cannot attend full-time on campus, without lowering the standard of teaching, assessment, or support they receive. This mission is published at brucol.be/about and reviewed annually.
2.2 Governance
The Vice Rector holds overall responsibility for the quality of online and hybrid delivery, reporting to the Rector. Decisions on platform selection, staffing, and resourcing for online delivery are made at the same governance level as on-campus decisions — online delivery is not treated as a lesser or separate track.
2.3 Leadership and Planning
The Vice Rector sets annual goals for online delivery quality (response times, completion rates, learner satisfaction) and reports progress against them to the Rector each term.
3. Transparency and Accountability
- Programme information (delivery mode, guided learning hours, assessment methods) is published accurately for every qualification, per the qualification specification supplied by the relevant awarding body
- Learner outcomes and satisfaction data from online delivery are reviewed each term and reported to the Board
- Any material change to the online delivery model is communicated to enrolled learners and, where required, to the relevant awarding body in advance
4. Resources and Staffing
4.1 Financial and Material Resources
Brussels College maintains a Google Workspace for Education subscription, reliable broadband at its campus, and a secure student records system, resourced as part of the annual budget reviewed under the Financial Transparency and Accountability Policy.
4.2 Staffing
Tutors delivering online or hybrid sessions are qualified in their subject (see the relevant Teaching Staff Appendix) and complete induction training on Google Classroom and Google Meet before teaching online, per the Staff Development Policy.
4.3 Technical Support
Learners and staff can reach IT support during working hours via office@brucol.be, with a target first response time of one working day.
5. Program Evaluation
- Internal review: the Vice Rector reviews online delivery quality each term, using Google Classroom engagement data, assessment outcomes, and the Student and Staff Feedback Forms
- External review: course content and delivery are reviewed against the standards of each awarding body (NCC Education, Northwood University as applicable), including any external verifier or moderator visits
- Acting on findings: review findings feed into the annual update of this document, the Staff Development Policy, and individual staff appraisals
6. Curriculum and Course Design
- Every online or hybrid unit is built around the official unit specification supplied by the awarding body, with clearly stated learning outcomes
- Materials posted to Google Classroom are reviewed for accessibility (readable formatting, captioned video where used) and currency at least annually
- Every unit includes structured opportunities for learner-to-learner and learner-to-tutor interaction (live sessions, discussion, group work), not just self-paced content
- All materials comply with copyright and fair use; third-party resources are used only under appropriate licence
7. Instruction and Assessment
- Teaching expectations for online delivery are set out in the Online Standards for Teaching and monitored by the Vice Rector
- Assessment methods for online and hybrid learners are equivalent in rigour to on-campus assessment, per each awarding body's requirements
- Academic integrity in online assessment (identity verification, plagiarism checks, secure submission) is managed per the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy
8. Equity and Access
- Entry requirements and how to apply are published in the same place and format for online, hybrid, and on-campus applicants
- Learners who disclose a disability or access need are supported per the Special Considerations Policy, whether studying on campus or online
- Where a learner has limited internet access, Brussels College works with them individually to agree a workable arrangement (for example, downloadable materials, flexible live-session attendance)
- Course materials are designed to work on a standard laptop or tablet without specialist software
9. Learner Support
- Onboarding: every learner receives a guided introduction to Google Classroom, Google Meet, and Brussels College's expectations for online study before teaching begins
- Academic support: Student Support (studentsupport@brucol.be) is available to online and hybrid learners on the same basis as on-campus learners
- Central hub: Google Classroom is the single, consistent place for materials, assignments, grades, and announcements for every unit
- Communication standards: tutors respond to learner queries within 2 working days and return feedback on assessed work within 10 working days (see Online Standards for Teaching, Section 4)
10. Monitoring and Review
This document is reviewed annually by the Vice Rector, and whenever Brussels College's online delivery platform, awarding-body partnerships, or regulatory obligations change materially.
11. Related Policies
12. Contact Information