scholarly journals A Construal of the Understanding Level of Quality Assurance by Internal Stakeholders in Two Malaysian Universities

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Baboucarr Njie ◽  
Soaib Asimiran
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Internal Stakeholders

The “understanding” in terms of interpretation of quality assurance is essential for the acceptance, theorizing and the practical application of the methods proposed by it. A great deal of research papers have often pointed to the lack of understanding, among others, as the reason behind the inadequate nature of implementing quality assurance in higher education institutes. This paper examines the “understanding” levels of two key stakeholders in terms of the meaning they make out of the policy pronouncements on quality. It utilizes the qualitative case study scheme to provoke the thoughts of mainly the academic staff and their administrative counterparts in two public universities. The findings reveal that there exist differences which are mainly grounded on their role and experience in the scope of understanding the purposes served by quality, and the depths of quality management fulfillment among the two categories of stakeholders. This underpins the value of clarifying the philosophy of quality assurance to stakeholders and their involvement for better understanding and ownership.

scholarly journals Internal Quality Assurance of Institutional Learning Outcomes: United States Case Study and Implications for Vietnam Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nhung Tuyet Thi Pham ◽  
Binh Thanh Thi Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Institutional Learning ◽  
Internal Quality Assurance ◽  
Internal Stakeholders ◽  
Traditional Performance

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are under pressure to provide evidence of student success. In addition to traditional performance indicators such as GPA, grades, and rates of retention, graduation and employment, stakeholders also required institutions to provide evidence of institutional learning outcomes (ILOs). ILOs encompass the knowledge and skills that all students regardless of disciplines from a specific university are expected to demonstrate upon their graduation. This case study examines a complete internal quality assurance (IQA) cycle from a U.S. comprehensive university, including the adaptation of national authentic assessment measures, the use of technology in data analysis, the best practices to communicate assessment results to multiple internal stakeholders to facilitate leadership decision-making, the challenges encountered, and the improvement plans to sustain the procedure. Researchers also make recommendations to Vietnam HEIs that want to adopt IQA of ILOs for both quality improvement and accountability purposes.

Internal quality assurance of institutional learning outcomes: United States case study and implications for Vietnam higher education

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nhung Tuyet Thi Pham ◽  
Binh Thanh Thi Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Internal Quality ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Institutional Learning ◽  
Internal Quality Assurance ◽  
Internal Stakeholders ◽  
Traditional Performance

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are under pressure to provide evidence of student success. In addition to traditional performance indicators such as GPA, grades, and rates of retention, graduation and employment, stakeholders also required institutions to provide evidence of institutional learning outcomes (ILOs). ILOs encompass the knowledge and skills that all students regardless of disciplines from a specific university are expected to demonstrate upon their graduation. This case study examines a complete internal quality assurance (IQA) cycle from a U.S. comprehensive university, including the adaptation of national authentic assessment measures, the use of technology in data analysis, the best practices to communicate assessment results to multiple internal stakeholders to facilitate leadership decision-making, the challenges encountered, and the improvement plans to sustain the procedure. Researchers also make recommendations to Vietnam HEIs that want to adopt IQA of ILOs for both quality improvement and accountability purposes.

scholarly journals Revolutionizing Public Universities of Ethiopia through Appreciative Inquiry Approach: A Case Study of Jigjiga University, Ethiopia

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Mohammed Jemal Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Appreciative Inquiry ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
University Management ◽  
Inquiry Approach ◽  
The University

Appreciative inquiry is a qualitative approach focusing on discovering and appreciating potential strengths and thecore value of organizations. This article has tried to explore the potential of appreciative inquiry to bring a positivechange in Jigjiga University of Ethiopia. The paper starts with the description of appreciative inquiry and the 4 “D”(Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny) model of appreciative inquiry. It has also tried to appraise the effectivenessof appreciative inquiry approach and design in bringing about change in the management system of JigjigaUniversity. The study is a case study of Jigjiga University within a context of higher education using appreciativeinquiry to assess the need for change and make recommendations on this basis. The author has four year experienceas academic staff, manager and lecturer in Jigjiga University. Hence, besides to the literature, the data have beendrawn from his own practical experience. Moreover, researches that have been done by Jigjiga UniversityAnticorruption Directorate and various annul reports of Jigjiga University have served as a main source of dataconcerning Jigjiga University management status. The author has tried to appraise the gaps of problem solvingapproach to transform Jigjiga University. The potential of the appreciative inquiry approach to bring sustainablechange in the University has also been highlighted. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to appraise the feasibilityand potential of appreciative inquiry approach to bring recommendable changes across several departments of JigjigaUniversity.

scholarly journals Stakeholder engagement in sustainability reporting in higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idoya Ferrero-Ferrero ◽  
María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo ◽  
María Jesús Muñoz-Torres ◽  
Lucía Bellés-Colomer
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Quality Of Reporting ◽  
Stakeholder Expectations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exploratory Approach ◽  
Internal Stakeholders

Purpose The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of stakeholder engagement in the context of sustainability reporting (SR) for higher education institutions (HEIs), together with the materiality principle and stakeholder expectations. Design/methodology/approach This research uses an exploratory approach based on content analysis, a case study and descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings Three key findings come out of this research. First, the results indicate that HEIs use diverse criteria for grouping stakeholders and that stakeholder engagement is a heterogeneous process. Second, the expectations of internal stakeholders align with the material aspects of SR. Finally, among internal stakeholders, students and academics disagree on the prioritisation of some sustainability aspects, with non-academic staff adopting an intermediate position. Practical implications This analysis improves our knowledge of stakeholder engagement in HEIs. It helps to identify the relevant impacts of stakeholder engagement, enhances the quality of reporting and encourages a real dialogue with stakeholders. Originality/value The study examines stakeholder engagement and how the materiality principle is adopted by HEIs through SR. Furthermore, it compares these results with stakeholder expectations, considering the discrepancies between stakeholders. The results open the way to future research to explore the potential conflicts and collaborations between and within stakeholders to advance towards more sustainable institutions in the higher education sector.

scholarly journals Implementation of Student-Centred Education Principles in a Master’s Study Programme: An Exploration of the Experience of Academic Staff

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanita Baranova ◽  
◽  
Baiba Kaļķe
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Higher Education Area ◽  
Standards And Guidelines ◽  
European Higher Education ◽  
Study Process ◽  
Common Understanding

The paradigm shift in higher education pedagogy and policy has been a subject of discussion for 30 years, during which time the emphasis has been placed on the transition to student-centred education. The implementation of this approach requires the democratisation of the study process and a shift towards performance-based outcomes, thus promoting students’ research capacities, well-being, personal growth, and quality of life. The most important document on the subject, which was developed in collaboration with the leading organisations of the Bologna Process, is the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area. This describes the common understanding of student-centred learning, teaching, and assessment. The standards and guidelines are also incorporated into the Latvian higher education quality assurance regulations. The authors of the present study are involved in the development and approbation of a new master’s study program, in which special attention is paid to the implementation of the principles of student-centred education. The central aim of the present study was to study the experience of lecturers in the implementation of the principles of student-centred education in the programme. The relevant literature and documents were surveyed and data from questionnaires (distributed to programme participants) were analysed. Using the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area and the Science, Technology Development and Innovation Guidelines 2021−2027 approved by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science, the present study sets out 10 basic principles of student-centred education. A survey was created for lecturers who are implementing the newly created master’s programme over one semester. Seventeen lecturers participated. The analysis of the questionnaire results indicated that promoting mutual respect in student−academic staff relations and students’ active engagement in the study process were considered to be the most important principles. The results also revealed that lecturers applied every student−centred principle, but it is necessary to promote a common understanding by developing a mechanism for evaluating them and to improve the competence of teachers in implementing them.

Putting Industry Into WIL Teaching Praxis

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-63
Author(s):  
Jeff Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Career Management ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Assessment Design ◽  
Internal Stakeholders

A 2008 review identified the need for Australia to get more citizens into higher education. With this increase in participation, the student cohort began to diversify. Qualitative research showed that final-year students experienced anxiety and a lack of confidence towards their impending transition into professional practice. The WIL course in this case study encouraged students to view career management proactively, as more than generating professional sustenance, but to connect to individual values and working preferences. Students reported that the WIL course helped them gain confidence in their existing skillsets to approach the market. There is an evidence base that as graduates the ‘lifelong' career management benefits of the course continue to be valued. Considerations for WIL praxis include earlier adoption of work-based learning, leverage internal stakeholders to understand the student cohort, and educating academics on assessment design to enhance students' opportunity to learn.

Policy actors’ perceptions of qualitative research in policymaking: the case of higher education rulemaking in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca S. Natow
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Actors ◽  
Target Populations ◽  
The Us

Background: As calls for evidence-based policymaking become increasingly common, qualitative research has much to offer the policy community. However, policymakers frequently evidence a preference for quantitative research. By discounting the importance of qualitative research in the policymaking process, resulting policies and their target populations miss out on the benefits that qualitative research uniquely offers.Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine how qualitative research has been perceived and used in the US government’s rulemaking process for creating higher education regulations.Methods: This qualitative case study included data from semi-structured interviews with 34 policy actors involved in higher education rulemaking, rulemaking documents, and research reports cited in several key higher education regulations.Findings: Many policy actors viewed qualitative research favourably, but qualitative studies have seldom been cited in higher education rulemaking. Several respondents discussed validity concerns and some policymakers’ misunderstandings regarding qualitative methods. Moreover, storytelling can influence policy actors’ perspectives about the content of policies, and qualitative research was viewed as effective at identifying compelling stories. Thus, narratives derived from qualitative research may provide an opportunity for qualitative researchers to have their work considered in policymaking processes.Discussion and conclusion: Qualitative research faces challenges with gaining visibility and influence in the development of regulatory policy. However, this study has shown that qualitative research has the potential to be both useful and persuasive to policymakers. Studies that discuss relevant stories may be particularly compelling.

scholarly journals Collegial or Managerial? Academics' Conceptions of Quality in English and Finnish Universities

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Lomas ◽  
Jani Ursin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Fitness For Purpose ◽  
Higher Education Systems ◽  
Quality In Higher Education ◽  
Finnish Higher Education

Two specific forms of quality are identified: Type I, which has a managerial focus and stresses fitness for purpose and accountability, and Type II, which is collegial and concerned with enhancement. Through an analysis of the literature on quality in higher education and small-scale empirical research with a sample of academic staff, this article compares conceptions of quality assurance in the English and Finnish higher education systems. The authors highlight the similarities and differences in the two countries and possible reasons for them. Over time the blend of managerial and collegial approaches to quality has come to favour the former but much more so in England than in Finland, which continues to prefer a largely enhancement-led agenda. Both are signatories to the Bologna Declaration, and the implications for other European countries of convergence in quality assurance systems by 2011 through this Declaration are considered.

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