The Role of Quality Assurance In The

Improvement of Quality And Standards In Higher

EducationPeter Williams, CBE

Former Chief Executive, QAA, UK andFormer President, ENQA

Jazan University 5 Rabi al-Akhir 1434

Quality assurance in higher education has grown greatly in past 25 years

Many models have been advocated and tried

Some have industrial antecedents (eg ISO) Others have been more customised for HE There are many hybrids and variants This has led to the first problem with QA in

HE:

Background

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

A workable definition is needed in each local context

Clarity of purpose is vital Procedures should be devised to meet the

defined purposes of QA Are there any irreducible values or

principles, shared by all?

There is no single agreed worldwide definition or purpose for QA in HE

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

But the results will probably disappoint A lot of effort will be expended for little

result QA may lose its credibility QA will be seen as an ‘overhead’ or burden

rather than a valuable tool

It is easy to focus on the method (audit, evaluation, accreditation) rather than on the purpose of the exercise

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

It will report on levels of ‘quality ‘◦ (but what is ‘quality’?)

It will compare levels of achievement among providers

It will provide an incentive to improve It will provide useful information for potential

students It will allow governments to reward or punish

institutions It will help to justify greater autonomy It will provide a form of consumer protection

So what are the expectations of quality assurance around the world?

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

No! Quality assurance should not be expected or required to do so much!

Quality assurance is a very useful tool, but it isn’t the answer to all problems in HE.

It won’t turn bad quality into good quality because...

Can a single process deliver all these purposes?

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Quality can only be assured by those who are involved in the teaching/learning activity: everything else is observation, commentary, facilitation or interference

Peter Williams ‘Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Quality assurance must not get in the way of effective learning

Quality needs to be assured for the benefit of students, teachers, higher education institutions, employers and society more generally

Quality assurance is a means, not an end QA procedures should be designed to meet

specific purposes

Irreducible principles

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

What is the system intended to achieve?◦ In what away will the world be a better place as a result of this system?

What differences do you want to see to teaching and learning (‘improvement’ is not an acceptable answer)?

What changes do you not want to happen? How much time and money are you willing to commit

(include opportunity costs)? Have you got sufficient professional expertise to do the job? How long are you prepared to wait for the changes to be

effective? Are you more concerned with control or improvement?

Things to consider when setting up or reviewing a quality assurance system

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

what are you trying to do? PURPOSES why are you doing it? REASON how are you going to do it? METHOD how do you know it works?

EFFECTIVENESS why is that the best way to do it? OPTIMISATION how can you improve it? IMPROVEMENT

6 basic quality assurance questions

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

1. Raise consciousness/develop quality culture (internal/external)

2. Develop quality assurance system (internal)3. Evaluate programmes (internal)4. Accredit programmes (external)5. Accredit institutions (external)6. Transfer programme accreditation to institutions

(self-regulation)7. Reserve external programme accreditation for

internationally competitive subjects on a voluntary basis

A theoretical agenda for developing a national higher education quality assurance system

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Unequivocal acceptance that students are at the heart of higher education

Development of awareness of quality in higher education institutions

Action to embed quality consciousness amongst individual academic faculty

Encouragement of a strong sense of collegiate responsibility for meeting students’ needs

Recognition of importance of self-knowledge An outward-looking philosophy Acceptance of public accountability A dynamic, needs-driven, quality assurance system

What would this mean in practical terms for institutions?

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Must be clear about what it is trying to achieve

Should do no more than is necessary Should not overburden institutions Should be committed to improving quality

and quality management Should beware the sterility of repetition Should not claim more than it can deliver

What about external quality assurance?

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-khi1434

A need for reliable and useful information about quality (rankings can’t provide this) and higher education more generally

A need for public confidence in providers A need for reassurance about the value of

qualifications A need for providers’ confidence in what they’re doing A need to encourage academic ownership of quality

and standards A need to get rid of ‘bogus’ institutions and

accreditors

Current global QA needs

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Strong internal quality cultures and associated actions

External verification of quality Up to date information about quality Clearly understandable standards for QA A common language and vocabulary

All of which suggest a requirement for

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

And finally...

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

And finally...

QUALITY

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

And finally...

QUALITY

…Quality is a journey, not a destination

Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434