Quality Assurance in E-Learning: A Proposal from Accessibility to Sustainability

Given the importance of developing and offering accessible education for all, indispensable aspects of education for sustainable development (ESD) are needed. This study addresses that need by proposing a quality self-assessment for virtual education from an accessibility perspective. This proposal is based on previous literature about quality assurance in e-learning that considered accessibility and its application in the field of higher education. The bibliographic review was conducted by following Multivocal Literature Review (MLR) guidelines. The initial search returned 999 items from 5 academic databases and 32,200 professional sources from Google. After reviewing the sources, 37 of them were included. Then, the accessibility criteria were identified and integrated into an evaluation model. Such a model is divided into four dimensions: (1) organization, (2) student body, (3) teaching, and (4) infrastructure. The model also includes a set of standards (16), requirements (48), and evidence (63) that apply to each dimension. Moreover, self-assessment guidelines for accessible virtual education were proposed. They included a conceptual and theoretical framework, a self-assessment model, and a methodology for applying the model. The methodology included five phases: planning, model tuning or refinement of the model, evaluation, results, and continuous improvement. As future work, the implementation and validation of the guidelines will be carried out.


Introduction
The era of knowledge and technology has invigorated people's social, educational, and organizational environments, forcing institutions to re-formulate their strategies to provide accurate quality responses to the environmental demands. The field of education has not been the exception, making room for new and varied forms of non-face-to-face education such as virtual education [1] and face-to-face education through electronic learning (elearning). Learning during the COVID-19 outbreak has gone from a complementary methodology to a mandatory model [2,3] in education, becoming a challenge in many institutions due to the short time to adapt to the pedagogical process, added to the technical, academic, and communication difficulties caused by the pandemic [4]. In this sense, educational and business institutions must improve and ensure the quality of their service to achieve a competitive advantage by providing value to students and society as a beneficiary.
Quality education is established as an integral element of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) [5]. ESD promotes sustainable development [5] that seeks to eradicate poverty and to promote economic prosperity, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, peace, and good governance for all. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda accessible website, or even a lack of knowledge of accessibility. Kumar and Owston [18] proposed e-learning accessibility based on the e-learning platform's accessibility and evaluated it from two methods: compliance tests (such as compliance with the WCAG) and user tests or usability tests to identify accessibility barriers. Seale [19] proposed accessibility in e-learning from a holistic view, which started from a conceptualization and study of disabilities and, in addition to the accessibility of the platform, considered elements such as institutional policies, support, and assistance to students and teachers with disabilities, as well as assistive technologies in other aspects.
Other studies reveal the need to rethink the universal learning design to better adapt to students with disabilities since it is not enough to have an accessible LMS (learning management system). Still, curricular adaptations are required to help these students [20]. All of this confirms the importance of accessibility in e-learning, placing accessibility as a transversal component in the quality of virtual education [21].
To achieve the SDG-4 [22], education must be of quality and must be accessible, in the sense of accessibility described above. In this way, based on accessibility, it will be possible to move towards sustainability in online education that uses primarily web-based technology, because accessible education gives people with disabilities the opportunity to learn in equal conditions [23], but web accessibility is also good for the planet because some of the flagship good practices in accessibility can reduce the carbon footprint of a website [24]. This article presents a quality self-assessment proposal for virtual education from an accessibility and inclusion perspective towards sustainability with a focus on the United Nations sustainable development goal on quality inclusive education. Thus, accessibility is approached through a holistic perspective, which goes beyond content accessibility and overcomes the bias of being dedicated exclusively to disability. The proposal is based on a literature review about quality assurance in virtual education. In particular, we conducted a systematic review of the literature of the last six years on models and standards for evaluating the quality of e-learning. One hundred thirty-four dimensions were identified with their respective indicators and criteria (504). After a comparative analysis of the similarities of their approaches, measures, and indicators, they could be summarized/categorized into a set of 18 dimensions. Then, 53 criteria related to accessibility and inclusion were identified, which were grouped into 8 criteria. In this way, the basis of the evaluation model proposed in this study was established. Based on those results, an evaluation model and a methodology for its implementation were defined as part of a quality self-assessment process. Finally, a guide for the self-assessment of the quality of accessible virtual education was built.
The rest of this document is organized as follows. First, in Section 2, the methodology followed for the construction of the evaluation model and the design of the proposed self-assessment guide is shown. Then, Section 3 presents the self-assessment guide with its main components in general. Next, in Section 4, the article's discussion is established, and, finally, in Section 5, the conclusions of this study are presented.

Materials and Methods
The method followed for constructing the model and the self-assessment guide is shown in Figure 1.

Systematic Literature Review
As an initial stage, a study of the quality assessment models and their implementation was carried out, which consisted of a systematic review of the literature with the MLR (multivocal literature review) methodology [18]. This methodology involves an examination of scientific and gray literature to know the current situation concerning the evaluation of quality in virtual education. It is from this objective that three research questions appeared: RQ1: What regulations, policies, or standards guide virtual education evaluation or quality assurance in HEIs?  RQ2: What processes, criteria, and/or dimensions have the evaluation or quality assurance models covered, and what accessibility aspects or characteristics do they address?
RQ3: What mechanisms are contemplated to put into practice the evaluation and/or accreditation of quality in accessible virtual education in HEIs?

Systematic Literature Review
As an initial stage, a study of the quality assessment models and their implementation was carried out, which consisted of a systematic review of the literature with the MLR (multivocal literature review) methodology [18]. This methodology involves an examination of scientific and gray literature to know the current situation concerning the evaluation of quality in virtual education. It is from this objective that three research questions appeared: RQ1: What regulations, policies, or standards guide virtual education evaluation or quality assurance in HEIs?
RQ2: What processes, criteria, and/or dimensions have the evaluation or quality assurance models covered, and what accessibility aspects or characteristics do they address? RQ3: What mechanisms are contemplated to put into practice the evaluation and/or accreditation of quality in accessible virtual education in HEIs?
The descriptors detailed in Table 1 were used as criteria regarding the search terminology. The resulting search string is the following (1); this string was used in six search engine databases: SCOPUS, IEEExplore, ERIC, WEB OF SCIENCE, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR for formal literature and GOOGLE for gray literature. The descriptors detailed in Table 1 were used as criteria regarding the search terminology. The resulting search string is the following (1); this string was used in six search engine databases: SCOPUS, IEEExplore, ERIC, WEB OF SCIENCE, and GOOGLE SCHOLAR for formal literature and GOOGLE for gray literature.
(standard | model | guideline | normative | criteria) AND ("quality evaluation" | "quality assessment" | QA) AND ("higher education" | college | university | "technological institute") AND (e-learning | elearning | "virtual education") Regarding the inclusion/exclusion criteria, it was determined to include studies published from January 2015 to December 2020, written in English and Spanish, and was related to the evaluation or assurance of quality in virtual education. In addition, documents that were not supported by models, standards, regulations, or quality were excluded, as well as documents whose complete access was not possible, duplicate papers, Sustainability 2022, 14, 3052 5 of 27 or documents with broken links. As of December 2020, a total of 33,199 articles were obtained. After applying the selection criteria and the systematic review process, 37 studies were included, which corresponded to formal or academic literature and 9 to gray literature (see Table 2). From the selected studies and to determine the validity of the sources, their quality was evaluated based on a checklist composed of five criteria, the first four corresponding to the formal literature: QA1 Is the author's recognition clearly identified or associated with a recognized organization based on the experience of the subject? QA2 Is the research methodology identified? QA3 Is the support of the objective adequately described impartially? QA4 Is there an unprecedented and significant contribution to research? And a fifth question for the gray literature: QA5 What is the relevance level of the document?
From the quality analysis of the academic literature of the 28 articles, 17 of them had a clearly identified research methodology (QA2); 25 of the papers adequately described the support of the objective in an impartial manner (QA3); two pieces presented an unprecedented and significant contribution to research (QA4). Of the nine articles selected as gray literature, three are level 1 (medium-high recoverability/credibility) since they correspond to popular science books, magazines, or specialized foundations. In addition, six articles are considered 2nd level (moderate recoverability/credibility) for being HEI publications or publications/studies of civil organizations. As part of the analysis process, Krippendorff's alpha (α) was estimated for nominal data [25]. Two observers participated to measure the agreement between them, who performed the quality assessment independently in a sample of 18 publications of the 37 studied. As a result, it is concluded that the evaluators interpreted the data similarly and acceptably with an alpha value of 0.714. Data extraction and analysis were supported with a data collection matrix for primary data extraction [26] with the following fields: title, author(s), year of publication, type of publication, source or bibliographic database, and related research question.
To build a solid foundation for a self-assessment model proposal, the previously mentioned research questions were posed; from them, the critical components of the self-assessment models and their accessibility criteria were determined.
Concerning RQ1, 21 models were identified; these were analyzed from a classification matrix (see details in Appendix A Table A1). In response to RQ2, 134 dimensions and 504 criteria were identified, of which 53 measures are related to accessibility (see Appendix A Table A2). From the analysis of the data presented in Appendix A Table A2 and a  deep study of each model and its dimensions, it was possible to group the 134 dimensions  into 18 (see Appendix A Table A3), through an abstraction process that is based on the matches of each approach.
Concerning the accessibility criteria, the 53 measures identified have been grouped into eight characteristics, which categorize the initial criteria (see Table 3). In response to RQ3, seven studies that address the mechanisms contemplated for the praxis of evaluation and accreditation of quality in accessible virtual education were identified. Evaluations are framed as a process that can be carried out as a set of phases, as detailed in Table 4. Table 4. Phases of the implementation process of quality assessment models in virtual training.
Definition of objectives and scope (C1).

2.
Explanation of the criteria and reference of the model (C2).

3.
Review of supporting documentation/evidence of compliance with the indicators (C3).

5.
Drafting the audit report and non-conformities for each topic and presentation of the audit report (C5).

2.
Analysis of the self-assessment and organization model (C7) 3.
Execution of the self-assessment process (C8).
Constitution of the external evaluation committee (C9).
Final evaluation and issuance of opinion (C22) 5.

1.
A formal request for a function or institution to be evaluated (C24).
On-site visit by a commission of external academic peers (C26).

4.
Preparation of the final report of the visit (C27).
Delivery of the evaluation report of the accreditation to the institution or the functions to the person in charge of the IES together with considerations of improvements or opportunities to be attended in a determined time (C29). 1. Information, motivation, and internal awareness in the institution (C30). 2.
Self-assessment to identify the strengths and weaknesses that can be improved (C31).

3.
External evaluation, made up of validation by international external academic peers and an on-site and direct assessment (C32).

4.
Accreditation (C33) and continuous improvement with the qualification of granting or not the official accreditation, as well as the conditions in which it is granted (C34).
Request to start the certification process (C35).
From the detail shown in Table 4, 40 phases or sub-processes defined in the different models are identified, observing typical steps (some of them with different names and others that can be related). After analyzing the elements of the models, seven phases were identified for the implementation of a quality evaluation model in virtual education: (1) beginning of the evaluation, (2) training, (3) self-evaluation, (4) external evaluation, (5) opinion, (6) continuous improvement and (7) public recognition of certification or accreditation (see Table 5). It constitutes the on-site visit to the institution evaluated by a group of peer evaluators (experts) to determine the extent of compliance with the quality standards of the model through observation and verification of the facts declared in the self-assessment report

5.
Certification or accreditation opinion C5, C11, C17, C22, C27, C28, C33, C39 It constitutes the declaration of Certification or Acreditation of the institution, program, or course evaluated, accompanied by a report of the findings and in cases the conditions or actions susceptible of improvement with which the certification is granted It refers to the continuous improvement thread to which the institution is committed based on the specific recommendations under which the certification or accreditation was granted, including an improvement plan proposed by the institution 7.
Public recognition C23 It includes public recognition of the quality achieved by the institution

Model Design
The construction of the model was based on four steps. First, a draft evaluation model consisting of 18 dimensions was built. Second, this model was in a panel of experts in two online meetings; they established the initial structure of the model composed of: (a) Dimensions, (b) Standards, (c.1) Requirements and (c.2) Evidence (see Figure 2). They also grouped 18 into 4 dimensions: (a) Organization, (b) Students, (c) Teaching, and (d) Infrastructure; 16 standards, 48 requirements, and 63 pieces of evidence (see Table 6). The first meeting lasted three hours, the construction of the model was carried out while the second meeting lasted two hours, the revision and adjustments were done. Third, the proposal was sent for a peer-reviewed process. Finally, the adjustments were made according to the observations presented. was sent for a peer-reviewed process. Finally, the adjustments were made according to the observations presented. The panel experts (n = 3) were selected based on their professional experience. The inclusion criteria were: (a) being a university professor, (b) having participated in selfassessment or accreditation processes, and (c) having expertise in virtual education or accessibility. Similar criteria applied for the peer reviewed process.

Design of the Guide
The construction of the self-assessment guide was based on two stages. The first covered the definition of the self-assessment methodology or application of the proposed model; the second corresponded to the preparation of the document.
The first stage was based on three steps. The seven phases identified in the literature review (Table 5) were analyzed in detail in the first step. The applicability or correspondence of the phases for a self-assessment process was determined, discarding phases 5, "Certification or accreditation opinion" and 7, "Public recognition", for being specific to certification or accreditation processes. In a second step, a panel of experts restructured the phases and defined the self-assessment process as being composed of (1) planning, (2) refinement of the model, (3) evaluation, (4) results, and (5) continued improvement. In each phase, a set of actions that pursue and guide an organized execution of the process was considered; the group of experts was the same as the one that participated in the design of the model. Finally, as a third step, the weighting and qualification matrix of the model was defined.
In the second stage, the guideline was prepared. Finally, it was submitted to review by a peer reader, then adjustments were made according to the suggestions.

Results
The guide is presented as a multipart, consisting of three sections: (a) a conceptual and theoretical framework that justifies and supports the construction of the guide, (b) a self-assessment model under a scheme structured in dimensions, standards, requirements and evidence of quality assurance, and (c) a model application methodology within a selfassessment process for a virtual education institution.  Figure 2. Structural scheme of the model. Table 6. Summary structure of the proposed model. Organization  5  16  19  Student body  3  9  13  Teaching  5  14  19  Infrastructure  3  9  12 Total 16 48 63 The panel experts (n = 3) were selected based on their professional experience. The inclusion criteria were: (a) being a university professor, (b) having participated in selfassessment or accreditation processes, and (c) having expertise in virtual education or accessibility. Similar criteria applied for the peer reviewed process.

Design of the Guide
The construction of the self-assessment guide was based on two stages. The first covered the definition of the self-assessment methodology or application of the proposed model; the second corresponded to the preparation of the document.
The first stage was based on three steps. The seven phases identified in the literature review (Table 5) were analyzed in detail in the first step. The applicability or correspondence of the phases for a self-assessment process was determined, discarding phases 5, "Certification or accreditation opinion" and 7, "Public recognition", for being specific to certification or accreditation processes. In a second step, a panel of experts restructured the phases and defined the self-assessment process as being composed of (1) planning, (2) refinement of the model, (3) evaluation, (4) results, and (5) continued improvement. In each phase, a set of actions that pursue and guide an organized execution of the process was considered; the group of experts was the same as the one that participated in the design of the model. Finally, as a third step, the weighting and qualification matrix of the model was defined.
In the second stage, the guideline was prepared. Finally, it was submitted to review by a peer reader, then adjustments were made according to the suggestions.

Results
The guide is presented as a multipart, consisting of three sections: (a) a conceptual and theoretical framework that justifies and supports the construction of the guide, (b) a self-assessment model under a scheme structured in dimensions, standards, requirements and evidence of quality assurance, and (c) a model application methodology within a self-assessment process for a virtual education institution.

Self-Assessment Model
The proposed self-assessment model consists of 4 dimensions that can be measured independently: Organization: evaluation of the institution's organization and general strategic actions that support the training process and permanent quality assurance that it must pursue. Students: evaluation of the actions that the institution promotes and applies for the benefit of students as training recipients. Teaching: evaluation of the actual virtual education process resulting from the construction of knowledge, educational innovation, and skills and abilities in the chair itself. Infrastructure: evaluation of the technological and technical support structure that enables the teaching-learning process.
Each dimension, in turn, is constituted and evaluated based on compliance with standards, which correspond to the reference points to be measured or valued and highlight the expected achievements and objectives that the institution can achieve.
Each standard, in turn, is made up of requirements seen as disaggregated criteria that guide compliance with a certain standard. Likewise, each contains a set of guiding information sources to facilitate its evaluation, allowing us to understand and appreciate the degree of compliance with the evaluated standard. These sources of information are documentary evidence that formally supports the self-assessment and external assessment, if applicable.
The resulting model contemplates four dimensions or evaluation areas, 16 standards, and 48 requirements or compliance criteria, distributed and organized as shown in Figure 3.

Self-Assessment Model
The proposed self-assessment model consists of 4 dimensions that can be measured independently:  Organization: evaluation of the institution's organization and general strategic actions that support the training process and permanent quality assurance that it must pursue.  Students: evaluation of the actions that the institution promotes and applies for the benefit of students as training recipients.  Teaching: evaluation of the actual virtual education process resulting from the construction of knowledge, educational innovation, and skills and abilities in the chair itself.  Infrastructure: evaluation of the technological and technical support structure that enables the teaching-learning process.
Each dimension, in turn, is constituted and evaluated based on compliance with standards, which correspond to the reference points to be measured or valued and highlight the expected achievements and objectives that the institution can achieve.
Each standard, in turn, is made up of requirements seen as disaggregated criteria that guide compliance with a certain standard. Likewise, each contains a set of guiding information sources to facilitate its evaluation, allowing us to understand and appreciate the degree of compliance with the evaluated standard. These sources of information are documentary evidence that formally supports the self-assessment and external assessment, if applicable.
The resulting model contemplates four dimensions or evaluation areas, 16 standards, and 48 requirements or compliance criteria, distributed and organized as shown in Figure  3. A summary of the model is presented in Table 7 with a description of the 16 standards. A summary of the model is presented in Table 7 with a description of the 16 standards. The institution has an organizational structure and a set of rules, policies, and regulations that support virtual education processes, highlighting accessibility and inclusion, as well as quality assurance and continuous improvement. 1.2. Information on the academic course or program: The public institution disseminates relevant information on the academic course or program in a clear and up-to-date manner that enables students to understand it fully. 1.3. Economy and technological financing: The institution has regulations and executes actions that guide the improvement and updating of the computer platform 1.4. Knowledge management: The institution has and applies regulations and procedures that guide the management of the knowledge generated within the different virtual education processes. 1.5. Research and innovation: The institution has regulations and executes actions that guide the improvement and updating of the computer platform that supports virtual education and other related processes.

Student body
2.1. Student support: The institution applies regulations and procedures that seek comprehensive education and student well-being in the academic, personal-social, and psychological spheres, according to the student's profile and their particular needs.

Admission:
Regarding the admission process to the program/career or course, the institution considers strategies to pursue an adequate income without discrimination according to the student's profile and needs.

Diversity and inclusion:
The institution applies regulations and procedures that enable educational inclusion without discrimination around the different actors of virtual education. The institution implements learning strategies that revolve around the development of the course, seen from the teaching-learning methodology, the scenarios and resources used, and the interactivity and use of tools/resources for interaction between student and teacher. 3.5. E-assessment: The institution applies regulations and procedures that seek to measure the achievement of learning results, considering an accurate and consistent evaluation with the course's objectives and with appropriate scenarios 4. Infrastructure 4.1. Technological infrastructure and equipment: The institution has a technological infrastructure that supports the virtual education process, the LMS platform, and technical equipment accessible to users who need it. Both the infrastructure and the equipment must provide a continuous service (24/7) and are conditioned to be accessible, robust, and safe. 4.2. Learning management platform: The institution has an accessible computer platform to support the virtual education process and administrative management. 4.3. Assistance and technical support: The institution guarantees assistance and training in e-learning skills for both students and teachers regarding the use of the LMS platform as well as other emerging technologies that support the training process

Implementation Methodology
The proposed self-assessment process constitutes an interactive and continuous process, which begins with a planning phase of the self-assessment activities, followed by the refinement or redefinition of the self-assessment model to the institutional reality and scope of application in the institution (institutional, program, course), continuing with the evaluation itself and ending with the analysis of results and the determination of strengths and weaknesses that give way to improvement proposals and their execution within a continuous improvement (see Figure 4) niques and instruments.
• Results: It constitutes the analysis and systematization of the results of the "Assessment" sub-process, which begins with the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the institution in terms of virtual education and culminates with the preparation of the self-assessment report.

•
Continuous improvement: It constitutes the phase aimed at minimizing the gap between the established quality standards and the level of compliance in practice, as well as maintaining the achievements obtained and guaranteeing that there is no evidence of a setback in the standards, also including other actions that enable the growth of the institution.

Discussion
Quality and accessible education for everybody could expand the scale of students who access it and, thus, support education for sustainable development (ESD) [34]. In this way, it is expected to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) since no goal is attained without the education sector [34,35]. Equitable and greater access to quality education contributes significantly to the fourth SDG, an objective that through its 10 goals focuses on guaranteeing equitable and quality access for all children to primary and secondary education, as well as guaranteeing equitable access for all women and men to  Each phase involves a set of actions that are pursued and guide an organized execution of the self-assessment process. The phases are:

•
Planning: This phase begins with the formalization of the need for self-assessment by the institution, formalization that, in addition to giving support to the process and its main actors, seeks the involvement and commitment of the members of the institution, being necessary to raise awareness of the process and its purpose. In this phase, the self-assessment team is formed, whose profile would refer to a group of professionals with experience in self-assessment processes and process management. Finally, the work plan is defined concerning the process.

•
Model tuning or Refinement of the model: Its objective is to redefine or adjust the model to the institutional reality. An update of the model is sought, with (a) a possible inclusion/exclusion of requirements according to the objectives of the institution and the scope of evaluation (institutional, program, course), (b) inclusion of evidence that supports compliance with the standard and its requirements, (c) review and adjustment of the rating scale (weighting matrix) according to the value that the institution estimates according to the scope of the self-assessment and (d) determination of the assessment techniques to be applied and design instruments (evidence collection sheets, interview guides, etc.). • Evaluation: Constitutes the evaluation execution based on previously defined techniques and instruments. • Results: It constitutes the analysis and systematization of the results of the "Assessment" sub-process, which begins with the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the institution in terms of virtual education and culminates with the preparation of the self-assessment report.
• Continuous improvement: It constitutes the phase aimed at minimizing the gap between the established quality standards and the level of compliance in practice, as well as maintaining the achievements obtained and guaranteeing that there is no evidence of a setback in the standards, also including other actions that enable the growth of the institution.

Discussion
Quality and accessible education for everybody could expand the scale of students who access it and, thus, support education for sustainable development (ESD) [34]. In this way, it is expected to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) since no goal is attained without the education sector [34,35]. Equitable and greater access to quality education contributes significantly to the fourth SDG, an objective that through its 10 goals focuses on guaranteeing equitable and quality access for all children to primary and secondary education, as well as guaranteeing equitable access for all women and men to quality technical, vocational, and higher education, including university education, without discrimination, seeking to increase the number of people who have the necessary skills (technical and professional), to access employment and decent work [22].
This research aimed to propose a self-assessment guide for the quality of e-learning from accessibility. Accessibility is conceived of as an opportunity within education services and the use of ICT [36], which we started from a study referring to quality assurance in elearning to build a solid knowledge base around the subject. In particular, the proposed selfassessment guide contemplates a set of actions that can contribute to the SDGs, these being: (a) ensure access and participate fully in the university for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, including people with disabilities, indigenous peoples and people with economic difficulties, (b) providing facilities that promote and encourage inclusivity in learning [7].
The literature review carried out in this study shows a growing interest in quality assurance in virtual education. For example, there are proposals for new models such as those described in [37,38] and proposals based on existing models, which result from adaptations focused on specific needs [27,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46]. Countries such as Colombia [30], Costa Rica [32], Mexico [31], Ecuador [47], among others, have quality accreditation institutions based on their evaluation models; this is also true of international organizations, such as the European Union [14]. In addition, comparative analyses and compilations of known quality assessment models and standards relevant to the authors of certain studies can be identified in the literature [9,12,[48][49][50][51]. Other studies have also aimed to propose aspects or recommendations for adaptations to new models [52][53][54].
During the literature review, it was noted that the scope of application or evaluation area differed between models. For example, there are models of institutional evaluation [33,37,38,41,42,55], others for the assessment of the program [3,9,39,56,57], or of a course [28, 58,59], evaluation of the platform (LMS) [39], evaluation of teaching [27], or e-assessment [40,45]. This revealed that the quality assessment around training in virtual education can range from general to specific such as e-assessment. In this sense, the guide proposed in this study has flexible applicability at different levels (institutional, training program, particular course).
Likewise, based on the application approaches identified in each model, it is evident that an evaluation model is not generalizable, since it often responds to sociocultural and particular needs of sectors, countries, or regions [30][31][32]; For example, four studies [27,33,44,60] presented proposals for models whose approach, according to the authors, is specific for application in universities or training institutions in the European Union. Likewise, four models [37][38][39]61] focused their criteria on the context of developing countries. In addition, only one study [29] considered the sociocultural context and particularities of the countries that make up the Latin American region and the Caribbean countries. Considering this fact, the guide includes a refinement phase of the model to the local context.
The diversity of approaches becomes explicit when the dimensions that make up a model are addressed. Of the 18 generalized dimensions (Appendix A Table A2) from the 134 dimensions identified (Appendix A Table A1), there is no common dimension in the 21 models studied. Dimensions such as "continuous improvement" and "technological infrastructure and equipment" are the most common with 18 coincidences in the analyzed models, followed by "learning strategies" with 17 coincidences, "content and learning resources" with 15, "student support and orientation" with 13, being able to consider them as the most important or relevant when evaluating the e-learning quality. On the other hand, dimensions such as "knowledge management" and "diversity" are unique, followed by "connection with society", "professor profile", "research and innovation," and "admission" with four coincidences; this also limits the scope of the model. Although the model proposed in this study is structured in four evaluation areas, all 18 dimensions identified in the literature and their objectives have been included in the model, either as a standard or a requirement Regarding the three-level structure proposed for the evaluation model (dimensions, standards and requirements, and evidence), it is considered easy to understand and is generally accepted in evaluation and accreditation models.  [62]. The structures are similar between models since the difference is focused on the name and not on the definition.
Although accessibility is present in the analyzed models, its depth or scope is limited. Of the 21 selected models, 17 present accessibility criteria, with a lower correspondence than the generalized criteria (Table 3). For example, the standard "accessibility of content" is considered in 11 models, followed by "usability" with nine matches, "flexibility of the curriculum" in five models, "service continuity and access to the internet and ICTs," and "alternative content" with four, "accessibility policies" with three, "assistive technologies" with two models and "training" with one model. This peculiarity does not occur in the model proposed in this study because it includes within its standards and requirements the seven criteria identified during the review.
Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of e-learning is the responsibility of training institutions and regular organizations (governments) [63]. In this sense, governments, through accreditation agencies, certify quality within a formal process; in addition, training institutions, also responsible for the quality of their service, promote self-assessment processes in adherence to assessment models that respond to a national or a particular reality. The proposed guide aims to solve the need for self-assessment from a specific perspective that refers to accessible virtual education.
Regarding limitations, the literature review could be biased by the language, the period of analysis, and the research keywords that could limit the searches. Moreover, the construction of the guide could also be biased by the background of the panel of experts and their experience in the evaluation processes of a single country such as Ecuador. To lessen this threat, an overview of the previous literature was done.

Conclusions
Because of the importance of education to all of the SDGs, it is essential to provide quality education that is accessible, affordable, and inclusive for all people.
The proposed self-assessment guide is not conceived for accreditation purposes, but rather its character is one of continuous improvement. In this way, each institution can have the freedom and autonomy to select and use the standards and requirements that it deems pertinent that contribute to the internal quality of its processes and the scope/scope of evaluation pursued according to its context. In addition, it should be noted that self-assessment constitutes a participatory process from its character of continuous improvement. Therefore, it is necessary to involve the university or institutional community from the beginning, seeking to achieve a sense of belonging in each member.
Finally, when considering the diversity of quality models studied, it was noted that a diagnosis or evaluation differs according to the complexity or extension of the model/standard and the particularities of the institution, program, or course to be evaluated.
As future work, it is proposed to focus on studying the statistical properties of the instrument (reliability and validity) to provide empirical evidence of the use of the model and the guidelines proposed. So too, the implementation and validation of the guidelines will be carried out.

Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement: Not applicable.
Acknowledgments: This deliverable has been co-funded by the Erasmus + Programmer of the European Union, project EduTech (609785-EPP-1-2019-1-ES-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP). The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Conflicts of Interest:
The authors declare no conflict of interest. Table A1. Models for evaluating quality in virtual education proposed. Conceptual framework of quality of a virtual institution aimed at quality improvement and quality assurance.

SQAMELS Farid-2018 [52]
Platform Conceptual or theoretical Developing countries Sustainable quality assessment model for e-learning systems from a soft-ware perspective. Its focus is on the technological platform that supports the programs, excluding sections such as pedagogical, personal, institutional, cultural, and social

Characteristics: Level Type Focus
Description TeSLA Huertas-2017 [57] e-assessment Conceptual or theoretical European Union A conceptual framework for an internal quality assurance system for e-assessment, in the context of higher education and e-learning, developed considering the standards and guidelines for quality assurance of the European Higher Education Area.

Marciniak-2018 [9]
Program Conceptual or theoretical Spain A comprehensive model for evaluating the quality of online education programs, whose focus is firstly on assessing the quality of the online program itself, and then on the continuous evaluation of the online education program, to improve through feedback and self-adjustment.

Mejia-Madrid & Molina Carmona [47]
Institutional Conceptual or theoretical International Model for evaluating the quality of distance higher education based on information and communication technologies (ICT), whose purpose is to guarantee the proper use of ICT in an institution's teaching and learning processes, academic processes, and administrative processes.

OSCQR-2019 [50]
Course Certification International Scorecard OSCQR allows course design review, constituted as a tool to improve the quality and accessibility of a course design, part of the OLC quality framework to guarantee the excellence of online learning of higher education institutions.

Program Certification International
Online Program Management Scorecard aimed to measure the effectiveness of an institution's online learning programs. Part of OLC's quality framework to ensure online learning excellence for higher education institutions.

FRAMEWORK OF INSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS FOR ONLINE TEACHING Luna-2018 [48]
Institutional Conceptual or theoretical México An analytical framework for evaluating the institutional conditions of online teaching in higher education.
Torres-Barzabal-2019 [27] Teaching Conceptual or theoretical European Union Qualitative evaluation model of quality of online teaching from a pedagogical point of view, for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The evaluation has two approaches, one related to the content and the information provided in the courses referring to the teaching action and a second approach about the teaching process applied in each class.
eMM (e-Learning Maturity Model) Marshall-2010 [49] Institutional Self-assessment International A quality framework for e-learning improvement, designed to assess the maturity of an institution to identify the key processes and practices necessary to achieve robust and sustainable improvements in e-learning quality. It can be considered a version of CMM from an educational perspective. Course/Program/Institutional Self-assessment Developing countries A framework to promote and ensure quality in virtual institutions sensitive to specific cultural contexts. Official model of career accreditation of Costa Rican universities that guarantees that a quality service is provided through self-assessment and external evaluation processes.

PDPP Zhang & Cheng-2012 [51]
Course Conceptual or theoretical International The four-phase evaluation model for e-learning courses includes planning, development, process, and evaluation of products (PDPP).
UNIQUe EFQUEL-2011 [41] Institutional Certification European Union UNIQUE is a high-quality institutional certification for the exceptional use of ICT in learning and teaching, whose model is subdivided into three evaluation dimensions (learning and institutional context, learning resources, and learning processes).

ELQ-2008 [53]
Institutional Conceptual or theoretical European Union E-Learning quality model for evaluating the quality of e-learning in higher education. Allow for diversity and accessibility of learning resources (A8). Allow flexible learning based on student needs (A9). Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) are used in content and on the platform (A20). Instructional materials are easily accessible to students and are easy to use (A21).
The course provides an adequate response to the needs of students with disabilities through alternative instructional strategies and referral to special institutional resources (A22). The program demonstrates compliance with and review of accessibility standards (A23). Text content is available in an easily accessible format, preferably HTML (A24). All text content is readable by assistive technology, including a PDF or any text contained in an image (A25). Learning materials must be reasonable and appropriately accessible to students whenever they wish. (A33). Access to learning materials should be granted to students with disabilities (e.g., 'screen readers' for those with limited vision, 'text narration' for those with little or no hearing, etc.) (A34). The e-learning platform must meet adequate bandwidth demands (e.g., materials are accessible without long delays). (A35). The online learning platform should provide students with a user-friendly, evident and predictable environment, considering: (a) developing a user-friendly e-learning environment, (b) cognitive load through proper use of color and design, (c) helping users visually through the appropriate use of text, images, audio, video, animation, graphics, etc., (d) standardized navigation in which users can find their way with a minimum of clicks (A36).
In the design and use of e-learning environments, students' needs, skills, and knowledge must be addressed and supported to meet their individual needs or preferences (A37). Various learning scenarios should be provided to support multiple learning styles and learning abilities (A38). • Instructional Design and Course Management: The educational program must have current, accessible, sufficient, and suitable instructional materials for the educational model (A46).
• Usability: The platform used by the educational program must be friendly for all user profiles and must have a non-linear or hybrid navigation system, well-designed interaction areas, logos, and attractive content spaces (A47). The platform used by the educational program must offer permanent access alternatives to materials in formats that meet the needs of students (A48). The structure of access to the different tools and services in the courses must allow students to become familiar with the interface in a short time and to carry out their activities without difficulty (A49).
• Infrastructure to manage courses: The learning management system (LMS) must present the following essential characteristics: interactivity, flexibility, scalability, standardization, usability, functionality, and ubiquity.
Institutional accessibility policies (disability) also cover the ICT offers of the institution (A51). The available learning resources have been tested for use and corrected to overcome common technical problems (A52). The course creation and production tools can cover a variety of current formats and thoroughly take into account the principles of usability, accessibility, interoperability, and durability, aimed at facilitating the application in the course (A53). Table A3. Dimensions abstracted from the studied models.

Generalized Dimensions Related Dimensions Description
Assessment and continuous improvement D6, D34, D35, D36, D54, D95, D70, D71, D79, D84, D98, D99, D100, D101, D107, D108, D127, D131 It is characterized by the constant evaluation process that can be maintained on the course or program, in which aspects are considered to determine the achievement of objectives, the effectiveness of learning and re-deeming students, evaluation of teaching performance, the sustainability of the course or program, the satisfaction not only of students and teachers but also of society as well as the impact, compliance with rules and regulations, seeking to identify the weaknesses that allow decision-making that permits constant improvement. It is characterized by the dissemination and publication of course information such as justification, objectives, study plan, entry, exit profile, and information on the teaching and technical staff. Characterized by the aspects that relate to the process of measuring the achievement of learning results of a course, considering that the evaluation is precise and consistent with the objectives of the course and with adequate scenarios, notified and provided feedback on time by the teacher, in correspondence to institutional qualification and evaluation policies and regulations Admission D2, D25, D117, D124 Characterized by the process carried out for the admission of a student to the program or course, considering aspects such as dissemination strategies, promotion, evaluation of knowledge and minimum necessary skills, registration, among others Research and innovation D69, D106, D126, D132 Characterized by aspects related to strategies and efforts in research and innovation in virtual education.
Teacher Profile D28, D41, D63, D121 Characterized by assessing the skills that the person who teaches classes should have.
Link with society D51, D118, D119, D132 Characterized by aspects related to student participation in the community.

Diversity D87
Characterized by aspects related to social influence, cultural diversity, prejudices of diversity, accessibility to information, and legal aspects, which revolve around the actors of virtual education

Knowledge management D7
Characterized by aspects that are oriented to the sharing/reuse of resources, as well as the existence of formats and processes to document lessons learned and actions concerning the evaluation of teaching performance.