Exploring Quality Assurances

2022 ◽  
pp. 26-42
Author(s):  
Vimbi Petrus Mahlangu ◽  
Mpipo Zipporah Sedio

The purpose of this chapter is to argue that higher education institutions (HEIs) in doing quality assurance (QA) must focus on the critical aspects of quality assurance, the need to look at the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges facing HEIs regarding quality assurance. It is assumed that institutions should carry out quality assurance and accreditation processes for stakeholders to have confidence in them. It also explains in detail what quality assurance and accreditation must entail in higher education institutions (HEIs). The need to maintain high-quality education standards becomes a critical requirement for HEIs to remain competitive in the education sector market. This chapter follows a qualitative approach in exploring quality assurance and accreditation in HEIs. Data will be collected through literature review. Quality assurance and accreditation in HEIs must aim to maintain and raise the quality of education and to guarantee the improvement of its standards.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Ferreira de Mello Silva ◽  
Eduardo Raupp de Vargas

Purpose This study aims to examine the extant literature to analyze the relationship between quality assurance (QA) and innovation in the higher education context. Design/methodology/approach This study selected 63 articles through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science databases and performed a descriptive and thematic synthesis-analysis on the sample. Findings The research identifies several perspectives discussed on QA systems covering experiences, criticisms and practice implications. The literature review shows there is no clear consensus on whether innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs) is fostered or hindered by QA processes. However, it seems that the likelihood of innovativeness and positive QA outcomes are directly linked to how these processes are managed in universities. Research limitations/implications This review highlights the university management concerns that emerge with QA issues as it is not yet clear to what extent innovation is actually promoted in scenarios where QA is applied. Hence, this literature review could be considered comprehensive but not exhaustive. Further studies are recommended to improve the understanding of how HEIs can both innovate and ensure quality at the same time. Originality/value The paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by advancing the opportunities and challenges that HEIs face due to QA system features.


Author(s):  
Magdalena Platis

Higher education institutions worldwide are evolving in a so-called quality assurance era in which quality standards are defined and implemented. Quality assurance has, in fact, two sides: one declarative, or formal, reflected into documents, proofs, and even statistics well prepared, and one practical, or informal, that behind all legal issues, the quality of processes is real. The contradiction between the two sides of the quality assurance contributes a false perception of quality and unethical institutional behavior. Higher education institutions can become ethical or more ethical through their people—management, academics, students, alumni, researchers. In other words, the culture of quality needs to be rebuilt towards trust. The objective of this chapter is to provide a clear insight to the contemporary state of higher education institutions' behavior and context to contribute to the building up of new quality management based on a trust in the area of education, research, and social development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 01016
Author(s):  
Jenny Mochtar ◽  
Gan Shu San

Academic quality is defined as the equivalent to academic standards related to student learning outcomes, which consist of specific levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities achieved by students participating in a program. The achievement of academic standards is accommodated by implementing both internal and external quality assurance practices. Internal quality assurance refers to policies and practices used by the higher education institutions to monitor and improve the quality of their education, while external quality assurance refers to policies and practices set up by external parties to assure the quality of higher education institutions and programs. Petra Christian University has built and implemented its internal quality assurance since 2009 based on its unique quality culture. After its ten-year journey and the achievements that Petra Christian University has reached in 2019, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and Society 5.0 are challenges ahead that Petra Christian University has to face.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Al-Amri ◽  
Y. Z. Zubairi ◽  
R. Jani ◽  
S. Naqvi

The use of a variety of instruments for quality assurance, management, and enhancement in higher education is well recognized. This article investigated the instruClose Panelments used by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Oman to measure, control, and manage the quality of their services in alignment with the standards set by Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA). Quality Assurance Managers (QAMs) from five HEIs were interviewed to identify the instruments used by them to fulfil the requirements of each standard and the way they make use of the data gathered by using these instruments. Findings from the study reveal that questionnaires and meetings are the most common instruments used by these institutions to measure, control and assure the efficacy of their current quality activities. In addition, HEIs use summary statistics to analyse data and then present them in meetings or through reports. On the other hand, it was found that substantial efforts are made to collect data but the efficient usage of data is missing. The QAMs reported a lack of awareness among the staff on the importance of collecting data since the staff members believe that these data are collected for documentation purposes only. This study emphasizes the importance of using the data gathered from different instruments in decision making and enhancing the quality of HEIs.


F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Joynson ◽  
Ottoline Leyser

In 2014, the UK-based Nuffield Council on Bioethics carried out a series of engagement activities, including an online survey to which 970 people responded, and 15 discussion events at universities around the UK to explore the culture of research in the UK and its effect on ethical conduct in science and the quality of research. The findings of the project were published in December 2014 and the main points are summarised here. We found that scientists are motivated in their work to find out more about the world and to benefit society, and that they believe collaboration, multidisciplinarity, openness and creativity are important for the production of high quality science. However, in some cases, our findings suggest, the culture of research in higher education institutions does not support or encourage these goals or activities. For example, high levels of competition and perceptions about how scientists are assessed for jobs and funding are reportedly contributing to a loss of creativity in science, less collaboration and poor research practices. The project led to suggestions for action for funding bodies, research institutions, publishers and editors, professional bodies and individual researchers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-191
Author(s):  
Natalia Salnikova ◽  

The development of the quality of higher education is a priority for the modern state policy of Ukraine. To implement the quality standards of higher education adopted in the European Higher Education Area, Ukrainian departmental universities are adapting the European experience, forming an internal quality assurance system. Departmental universities have been establishing an internal system of quality assurance since 2016. At this stage, the relevant provisions on the level of the universities have been developed to regulate the distribution of powers between different departments of the HEI. Another direction of quality assurance is cooperation with external stakeholders, in particular public organizations of various levels. Based on the analysis of examples of interaction between departmental higher education institutions of Ukraine and international non-governmental organizations available on the websites of relevant institutions, a conclusion was made about the discrete nature of cooperation and the lack of public information about the cooperation. According to information on the sites the universities and international NGOs cooperate in the form of joint public events of academic character, they organise training, conferences and round tables. International non-governmental organizations have great potential to ensure the quality of specialized higher education, in particular, in the joint development and revision of educational programs with universities, educational activities involving international experts, conducting international seminars and workshops, joint projects. Moreover, non-governmental organizations can provide educational services of non-formal education; to carry out projects addressed to local communities in partnership with higher education institutions. The author considers non-governmental organizations to be an important mechanism for articulating public interests and requests of citizens and local communities which is critically important for the departmental universities. To realize this potential of cooperation, it is necessary to establish additional documents (regulations, concepts), which will detail the mechanism of cooperation between the departmental university and the non-governmental organization


Author(s):  
Valentina Mihaela Ghinea

When it comes to the quality of education, despite the general adhesion related to its importance, one can notice a number of opinions frequently contradicting themselves. The intention of delimitating, systemizing, and prioritizing the multitude of quality facets simply enhances the criticism. These circumstances prompt a more thorough analysis of the quality in education. Focusing on the perspective of the European Higher Education, this chapter proposes a set of convergence indicators that are able to capture the relationship toward which universities evolve. The indicators are then tested against the opinion of several experts from Romanian Higher Education Institutions, analyzed, and subjected to careful revision based on the respondents' answers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-96
Author(s):  
Sonila Xhafa

Albania is looking to take its place within Europe. To do so, the nation needs to develop more skilled and educated working population. Following the political and economic changes of 1991, the system of higher education in Albania has not necessarily been adequately organised or capable of providing a sufficiently high-quality education. This paper will present some information on higher education (including degree and diploma programmes) in Albania during the transition and in the present day, and give attention to the development of higher education in the country and conclude with some suggestions for improving public universities and education infrastructure and increasing the quality of the experience undergone by both students and academic staff.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 2303-2314
Author(s):  
Ida Martinelli ◽  
Nalil Khairiah ◽  
Nurhasanah Nasution ◽  
Leylia Khairani

Graduating is not only about taking compulsory education, but also fulfilling the qualifications of graduates' abilities which include attitudes, knowledge, and skills. This is in accordance with the provisions of the education system contained in Government Regulation 32 of 2013. The lack of understanding of graduate quality standards is due to minimal socialization carried out by the government and related institutions. Therefore, this community service is important in order to provide knowledge to the society, so that it can further increase its participation to help in realizing high-quality education. The implementation model is carried out through the partnership method, by involving the government of Pematang Johar Village in several stages, namely: 1) pretest; 2) socialization; and 3) posttest to measure the success rate of the program. The results show that there is an increase in knowledge for the society about the quality of graduates in accordance with national education standards and there is a better awareness that society participation is needed to help realize high-quality education.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Nguyen Duc Hanh

Accreditation is a solution for improving the quality of education in higher education institutions. Quality accreditation plays a dominant role that supports quality assurance management in the higher education system. The accreditation frameworks and external quality assurance are different between countries. The United States started quality accreditation very early, so it has a robust educational quality accreditation system, excellent support for the development of higher education institutions. Vietnam has only begun to conduct quality accreditation in recent years. At present, there are still some differences between Vietnam and the United States in quality management activities, but education quality accreditation of Vietnam is approximately similar the United States and carried out in three models: the model of central control of quality assurance of state; model of quality assurance combining between state control with the market competition; and model in which the state primarily leave responsibility for quality assurance to self-accrediting universities.


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