Institutionalisation of Quality Assurance in an Ethiopian Public University
Abebe, Rediet (2014)
2014
MDP in Research and Innovation in Higher Education
Johtamiskorkeakoulu - School of Management
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2014-07-31
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201409082115
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:uta-201409082115
Tiivistelmä
Quality assurance in the Ethiopian higher education has for long been external i.e. the
evaluation of higher education institutions by HERQA. Since 2009 however necessary
legal provisions requiring every higher education institution to set up institutional
quality enhancement came into effect. Based on this development, the study
investigated how quality assurance has been institutionalised in public universities. The
study used a qualitative case study design. Data was collected from an anonymous case
university through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, document analysis, and
non-participant observation. The data was analysed using an inductive analysis
method.
The findings of the study showed that the IQE centre of the case university carries out
several activities targeted at assuring and enhancing academic quality. These include
carrying out internal quality audit; monitoring and supervision of quality assurance;
conducting program and course audits; curriculum review; developing instruments for
quality assurance; giving trainings for academic staff; ensuring fair distribution of
courses; liaising with HERQA; and celebrating educational quality day. In general, the
IQE directorate strove to lead and assist the continual development and improvement
of academic quality and relevance in the university. On the other hand, the study
analysed the state of essential elements necessary for institutionalising quality
assurance in the IQE centre of the case university. Accordingly, findings indicated that
there are appropriate policies and structural establishments whereas leadership,
resources, and information and communication are inadequate. Conversely, the status
of capacity building, core values and rewarding quality has been low. Finally, the study
revealed that the institutional quality enhancement of the case university vacillated
between the experiential and early expansion phases of institutionalisation. Therefore,
institutional support to the IQE centre should be strengthened if internal quality
assurance is to further institutionalise and expand throughout the entire university.
evaluation of higher education institutions by HERQA. Since 2009 however necessary
legal provisions requiring every higher education institution to set up institutional
quality enhancement came into effect. Based on this development, the study
investigated how quality assurance has been institutionalised in public universities. The
study used a qualitative case study design. Data was collected from an anonymous case
university through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, document analysis, and
non-participant observation. The data was analysed using an inductive analysis
method.
The findings of the study showed that the IQE centre of the case university carries out
several activities targeted at assuring and enhancing academic quality. These include
carrying out internal quality audit; monitoring and supervision of quality assurance;
conducting program and course audits; curriculum review; developing instruments for
quality assurance; giving trainings for academic staff; ensuring fair distribution of
courses; liaising with HERQA; and celebrating educational quality day. In general, the
IQE directorate strove to lead and assist the continual development and improvement
of academic quality and relevance in the university. On the other hand, the study
analysed the state of essential elements necessary for institutionalising quality
assurance in the IQE centre of the case university. Accordingly, findings indicated that
there are appropriate policies and structural establishments whereas leadership,
resources, and information and communication are inadequate. Conversely, the status
of capacity building, core values and rewarding quality has been low. Finally, the study
revealed that the institutional quality enhancement of the case university vacillated
between the experiential and early expansion phases of institutionalisation. Therefore,
institutional support to the IQE centre should be strengthened if internal quality
assurance is to further institutionalise and expand throughout the entire university.