QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION Prof. Colin N. Peiris Quality Assurance Specialist.

QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY ASSURANCE

IN IN

HIGHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATION

QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY ASSURANCE

IN IN

HIGHER EDUCATIONHIGHER EDUCATION

Prof. Colin N. PeirisQuality Assurance Specialist

Character of Universities 20th Centuary

Government to continuously provide adequate funding Highly politicized and militant university community Isolation of universities from markets Academics believe in idealism, nationalism, liberalism, radicalism etc. Supplied on national basis – mostly for local students Government regulated Competition and profits were almost unknown Smaller enrolment for elitist students (studies or wealth)

Universities in 21st Centuary Higher Education is International

Annual Growth in Enrolment is 7%

Active Participation of Private Sector and Religious Organizations

Quality and Relevance are Important

Annual Tuition Fee Income US$ 30 billion

Universities Compete for Talent and Money

Mass Higher Education (Higher Education for all)

Role of State is Shrinking and Diminishing

Demand Exceeds the Supply

Offerings and Deliveries in Different ways

In 1880 Rich countries were 04 times as rich as poorest

African Countries Rich countries were 02 times as rich as most Asian

Countries

In 2002 Rich countries were 400 times as rich as poorest

African Countries Rich countries were 10 times as rich as most Asian

Countries

Economies – Developed Vs Developing Economies – Developed Vs Developing CountriesCountries

Why We Need To Why We Need To Change? Change?

Some Statements on Quality Assurance

QA is not a science, but common sense

Instruments are important, but the right attitude is much more important QA is the responsibility of everybody

QA should be part of the overall policy and management

Objectives of Quality Assurance

• Universities are Public Institutions• Higher education is a “Public Good”

-Is of crucial importance to the:

• Health• Wealth• Well-being of society and• Economy of the country

Is a key factor in promoting and safeguarding public confidence In the country Higher

Education

• HE is the engine that drives the economy

- a priority public issue for governments.

- a strategic, human resource investment

• To fuel the engine need to get the public Support

- Establish Goals and PI’s

- Report on Progress

• Public and Government are concern with HE – standards– quality – employability – skills of graduates

• HE is expensive.

• Increased demands for accountability

QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM

EXTERNALINTERNAL

SELF ANALYSIS

QUALITY PLAN

ACCREDITATION

ACCOUNTABILITY

EXTERNAL ASSESMENT

IMPROVEMENT

PI’s - WHY? WHAT FOR?PI’s - WHY? WHAT FOR?

Universities need base decisions Universities need base decisions concerningconcerning - efficiency

- effectiveness - Productivity

Comparisons and assessments of Comparisons and assessments of educational functioning.educational functioning.

• Expansion of HE has gone hand in hand with the diversification of its market and products

Increased competition among students and institutions

Growing need for recognition and

certification of courses

Trans-border phenomenon of overseas

students

Courses becoming increasingly difficult to

regulate

What PI’s are - and What PI’s are - and what they are notwhat they are not

• “If the goals of education are vague or

undefined or if the ways to achieve them are

unknown, then no information is useful and

anything or nothing will serve as an indicator.”

(OECD, Indicators of Performance of Educational Systems, Paris, 1973)

End noteEnd note

• QA is like adding brakes to cars. The purpose of brakes is not to stop you: it’s to enable you to go fast! Brakes help avoid accidents caused by mechanical failures in other cars, rude drivers, and road hazards.

• QA must be internally driven and become a need rather than an obligation

• Whatever QA system is adopted, it has to be shared by majority of members of the Inst.

• QA is a destination but not an end point

Positive ThinkingPositive Thinking