Successes and failures of online program management in Asia: a case study of faculty experience of the transition to online learning

This case study explores the successes and failures of the online program management (OPM) model applied in a new context with a South-East Asian (SEA) university (and during the COVID-19 pandemic). Specifically, this study examined how university faculty experienced working with an OPM and their thoughts on designing online learning and teaching within the new partnership model with a Western online education provider. The partnership this study explores was one of the first OPM partnerships in the country and the first 100% online post-graduate degree programme of its type. The study adopted an action research approach with which to examine the processes, technologies, and resources (including leadership strategies) that were applied to support faculty in the SEA university as they developed two 100% online postgraduate degree programs. The study compared these tools and approaches with the experience of the subject academics, captured through a faculty survey. The study identified gaps between support processes and actual faculty experience including the importance of clear expectation setting, adequate technology training, online facilitation training, and adequate resourcing. The study also identified a change in subject academic attitudes towards online learning, which may have been a result of the impact of COVID-19 and its effects on university teaching within the target country.