The Role of Quality Assurance In The Improvement of Quality And Standards In Higher Education

1. The Role of Quality Assurance In The Improvement of Quality And Standards In Higher Education Peter Williams, CBE Former Chief Executive, QAA, UK and Former President, ENQA Jazan University 5Rabi al-Akhir 1434

2. Background • 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: Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

3. There is no single agreed worldwide definition or purpose for QA in HE • 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? Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

4. It is easy to focus on the method(audit, evaluation, accreditation) rather than on the purposeof the exercise • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

5. So what are the expectations of quality assurance around the world? • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

6. Can a single process deliver all these purposes? • 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... Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

7. Quality can only be assuredby 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

8. Irreducible principles • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

9. Things to consider when setting up or reviewing a quality assurance system • 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? Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

10. 6 basic quality assurance questions • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

11. A theoretical agenda for developing a national higher education quality assurance system • Raise consciousness/develop quality culture (internal/external) • Develop quality assurance system (internal) • Evaluate programmes (internal) • Accredit programmes (external) • Accredit institutions (external) • Transfer programme accreditation to institutions (self-regulation) • Reserve external programme accreditation for internationally competitive subjects on a voluntary basis Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

12. What would this mean in practical terms for institutions? • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

13. What about external quality assurance? • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-khi1434

14. Current global QA needs • A need for reliable and useful information about quality (rankings can’t provide this) and higher education more generally • A need for publicconfidence 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

15. All of which suggest a requirement for • 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 Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

16. And finally... Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

17. And finally... QUALITY Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

18. And finally... …Quality is a journey, not a destination QUALITY Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434

19. Good luck! Peter Williams Jazan University 6 Rabi al-Akhi1434