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Quality assurance in Higher Education: Fit for the new millennium or simply year 2000 compliant?

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Abstract

The current focus on quality assuranceprocedures emphasises compliance andaccountability. Drawing upon experience, mainlyfrom the UK, the article argues that whilstthis approach is understandable given thecircumstances of the 1990s, it has led to aninstitutional culture that is in danger ofalienating academic staff to the detriment ofthe system as a whole. If quality assurancesystems are to recognise the increasinglydiverse nature of higher education institutionsin the new millennium, compliance will need tobe balanced by a greater emphasis onencouraging innovation and self-improvement onthe part of individual members of staff. Bothquality assurance agencies and institutionsthemselves will need to adapt their policies,procedures and culture if higher educationsystems are to respond positively to thechallenges of the new millennium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, CF37 1DL, UK

    Peter Hodson

  2. Tudor Cottage, Water Lane, Little Horkesley, Colchester, CO6 4DG, UK

    Harold Thomas

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  1. Peter Hodson
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  2. Harold Thomas
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Hodson, P., Thomas, H. Quality assurance in Higher Education: Fit for the new millennium or simply year 2000 compliant?. Higher Education 45, 375–387 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022665818216

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