A result from the VISCED project, the presentation gives a brief overview of 8 critical success factors, and a methodology for defining key success factors in the context of virtual schools. It backs up the work of the document at http://www.virtualschoolsandcolleges.info.

1. Critical Success Factors
for Virtual Schools
Anthony F. Camilleri
Quality Services Manager
EFQUEL

2. Sources of Success Factors
2

3. Sources
• Re.Vica Critical Success Factors
• Pic & Mix Master List
• INACOL National Standards
• Various Quality University Quality Schemes
(UNIQUe, ECBCheck, ACODE Benchmarks etc)
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4. 8 Critical Success Factors
1. Leadership in e-Learning
2. Market research
3. Relationship management
4. Technical infrastructure
5. Usability
6. Professional development
7. Learning outcomes
8. Understanding the regulations
4

5. Critical Success Factors 1-4
Leadership in e-learning The capability of leaders to make decisions regarding
staffing, student issues, and virtual school administration
is fully developed at all levels of management.
Market research Market research (to assess demand for virtual schooling)
done centrally and updated annually or prior to major
programme planning.
Relationship management Effective processes designed to achieve high credibility
with relevant government and public agencies.
Technical infrastructure The technical infrastructure is reliable and fault tolerant
(in terms of availability and backup) and support is
readily available to the system users.
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6. Critical Success Factors 4-8
Usability All systems (being used to support students, teachers, and
others involved) usable , with internal evidence to back this up.
Professional Appropriate professional development available to staff
development (subject matter, pedagogical principles, teaching tools which
they are utilising for instruction, as well as in understanding
the specific nature of students involved).
Learning outcomes All teaching has clearly defined learning outcomes, which are
assessed for purposes of certification and progression.
Learning outcomes and their assessment are uniform for
equivalent units throughout the institution.
Understanding the Students have a clear understanding of the school/college
regulations regulations.
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7. Evidenced by Case Studies
• Success Factors cross-checked against policies from
successful virtual schools:
– Bednet (Belgium)
– Ensino a Distância para a Itinerância (Portugal)
– InterHigh (Wales)
– iScoil (Ireland)
– Nettilukio – Otava Folk High School (Finland)
– Rīgas Tālmācības Vidusskola (Latvia)
– Sofia Distans (Sweden)
– Wereldschool (the Netherlands)
• Significant evidence of each success factor found
across the cases
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8. Key Success Factors
• Context-Specific accompaniement to Critical
Success Factors
– Temporal factors
– Competitive strategy
– Geographical location
– Environmental factors
• Are to be defined by the Institution itself
• Once defined, achieve same status as CSFs
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9. Steps to Define KSFs
• Step 1: Identify Institutional Objectives
• Step 2: Refine Institutional Objectives
• Step 3: Turning Objectives into Indicators
• Step 4: Order Objectives
Final Result: List of 3-7 Key Success Factors
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10. Thank-You
Input, Questions, Feedback welcome at
anthony@camilleri.com
Presentation available at:
http://www.slideshare.com/anthonycamilleri
More information from:
http://www.virtualschoolsandcolleges.info
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