22.23 What does the profile attribute “online study programme” mean?

The profile characteristic “online” or “online study programme” is not defined in greater detail in the MRVO. In the context of accreditation, this umbrella term encompasses forms of study in which the transfer of knowledge takes place entirely or partially virtually, at a physical distance. This can include both “traditional” distance learning programs with predominantly asynchronous communication between instructors and students, as well as hybrid formats with varying proportions of in-person attendance, online events equivalent to in-person instruction, and asynchronous forms of knowledge transfer. There is no standardized terminology for these hybrid forms: terms such as “online study,” “blended learning,” “hybrid,” “(semi)virtual,” “flipped classroom,” and the like may therefore be used with slight variations in meaning from one higher education institution to another. This is accepted in the accreditation process—provided that the use of these terms is not grossly misleading in individual cases.