Assessing Quality Assurance Practices in Institutions of Higher Learnings
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Date
2019
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Publisher
International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research
Abstract
In the effort to globalize higher education services and embark
on innovative knowledge production and dissemination aimed at fitting
into the global scheme, quality assurance becomes the sine qua non.
Quality assurance (QA) provides the tools and direction to improve the
quality of knowledge created, stored, and shared at institutions of higher
learning. This study assesses the development and practice of QA in
institutions of higher learning (IHLs) in Ghana. The mixed research
method was used to collect data from staff and officers of institutions of
higher learning who are directly involved in ensuring quality in the
institutions. Six (6) IHLs participated in this study. The results indicated
a generally higher degree of awareness and understanding of the
concept of QA at the institutions as all of them have a QA department.
The institutions are putting in more effort to ensure quality by carrying
out internal assessments as there are available policies and strategies
aimed at ensuring quality at the institutions. This led to high service
quality at the institutions except for the College of Health. Besides, the
focused areas quality at the institutions: stated vision, mission;
governance structure; statutes and conditions of service; academic and
programs; clean and siren environment; staffing; and library, technology, and information services. Despite these, the study established that the
quality assurance units of the institutions lacked the necessary resources
(technology, library, staff, laboratories, etc) for effective quality
assurance activities.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Quality, Quality Assurance, Accreditation, Assessment, Audit, Institutions of Higher Learning