This item is in: Chandos > Information management > e-learning and research

External Quality Audit: Has it improved quality assurance in universities?

Edited by Mahsood Shah, RMIT University and Chenicheri Sid Nair, University of Western Australia, Australia

Chandos Learning and Teaching Series No. 11

 - brings together the experience of academics and administrators in higher education institutions
 - examines international experience on the extent to which external quality audits have improved quality assurance at national, institutional and faculty levels
 - gives perspective from a variety of higher education institutions
 - features a chapter based on the views of a student group on the extent to which external quality audits have improved the student experience
 - outlines the experience from both developed and developing economies

Whilst external quality audits have been in place for more than a decade in some countries, limited research exists on the extent to which such audits have been effective in improving systems and processes for quality assurance in higher education institutions, and the extent to which such audits have improved academic standards, outcomes and student experience. External Quality Audit looks at the experience of countries where external quality audits have been established by governments, and provides analyses of their effectiveness in improving quality assurance in universities and other higher education institutions.

ISBN 1 84334 676 1
ISBN-13: 978 1 84334 676 0
March 2013
308 pages  234 x 156mm  paperback  
£52.50 / US$90.00 / €65.00

Usually dispatched within 24 hours

An e-book version of this title will be available from Chandos Publishing Online. To view the current titles available visit Chandos Publishing Online

About the editors

Mahsood Shah is Principal Advisor for Academic Strategy, Planning and Quality at the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

Chenicheri Sid Nair is Professor of Higher Education Development in the Centre for Advancement of Teaching and Learning, University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia. Prior to his appointment to UWA, he was Quality Adviser (Research and Evaluation) in the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ) at Monash University, Australia.

Titles which may also be of interest:
Enhancing Learning and Teaching through Student Feedback in Social Sciences
Instructional Strategies and Techniques for Information Professionals
Prometheus Assessed?
Utilizing Technology in the Academic Research Process
Providing Research Support

Contents

Quality assurance – corporate fist in a velvet glove?
Robin McTaggart
 - Australian quality assurance
 - Measuring teaching quality
 - Educational reform
 - Quality assurance for teaching at James Cook University 2000–10
 - The JCU historical context for quality assurance
 - Quality assurance – summary of influences on teaching
 - All is not rosy in the world of professors
 - Note
 - References

Quality assurance – corporate fist in a velvet glove?
Robin McTaggart
 - Australian quality assurance
 - Measuring teaching quality
 - Educational reform
 - Quality assurance for teaching at James Cook University 2000–10
 - The JCU historical context for quality assurance
 - Quality assurance – summary of influences on teaching
 - All is not rosy in the world of professors
 - Note
 - References

The impact of external quality audit in a private for-profit tertiary education institution
Mahsood Shah and Sue-Ann Stanford
 - Introduction
 - Evidence of effectiveness: global perspective
 - Brief overview of private providers in Australia
 - External quality audits of private providers
 - Quality audit approach
 - Discussion on the effectiveness of the quality audit
 - Conclusion
 - References

Multiple views of quality audits in New Zealand: a case for advancing systemic understanding
Shelley Paewai
 - Introduction
 - A brief overview of quality audits
 - Quality audit in New Zealand
 - Views of quality audits in New Zealand
 - Conclusion
 - Notes
 - References

Reflections on the effectiveness of four cycles of external quality audits in New Zealand universities
John M. Jennings and Jan Cameron
 - Introduction
 - Universities New Zealand and the establishment of the
 - New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit, Te Wa - hanga Ta - tari
 - National context: recent government policy
 - International context
 - The impact of academic audit on systems and processes
 - The impact of academic audit on standards, outcomes and the student learning experience
 - The impact of academic audit at institutional and national level
 - The future challenges for quality assurance in New Zealand universities
 - Conclusion
 - Notes
 - References

Enhancing quality assurance in an institution: the University of the South Pacific experience of an external audit
Sereana Kubuabola
 - University of the South Pacific: an overview
 - A vision for the year 2020
 - The quality strategy
 - External audit
 - The self-assessment
 - Post-audit – the processes and impacts
 - Conclusion
 - References

Quality audits in Hong Kong: seeking evidence of quality enhancement
Carmel McNaught
 - The education landscape in Hong Kong
 - Quality audits in Hong Kong
 - Methodology for analysis of the Quality Assurance Council reports
 - Findings
 - Summary
 - Acknowledgements
 - References

External quality audits and quality assurance in the higher education sector: the Malaysian perspective
Marlia Puteh, Hadina Habil and Naziha Ahmad Azli
 - Introduction
 - Quality audit practice in higher education
 - Government policy on external quality audits
 - The case of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
 - A practitioner’s point of view
 - Future challenges for higher education quality assurance in Malaysia
 - Conclusion
 - Notes
 - References

External quality audit in the UK: an impact analysis
Shuiyun Liu
 - Introduction
 - The purposes of Institutional Audit
 - The implementation of Institutional Audit
 - The effects of Institutional Audit
 - Reflections on Institutional Audit
 - Conclusions
 - Acknowledgement
 - Notes
 - References

Effect of external quality agencies on universities in India
Asha Gupta
 - The context
 - The Indian scenario
 - Effects of external assurance
 - Assuring transnational education
 - Lessons to be learned
 - References

External quality audits in South African higher education: goals, outcomes and challenges
Lis Lange and Mala Singh
 - Introduction
 - External quality assurance in the South African higher education context
 - Functions of the HEQC
 - Principles and approaches in the institutional audit system
 - Systems and procedures for institutional audits
 - External institutional audits: outcomes and impact
 - Impact of the audit process: preparation and site visit
 - The issue of impact through audit recommendations
 - Evaluating the student experience in audits
 - Conclusion
 - Note
 - References

Development, effectiveness and future of quality assurance and assessment in Italian higher education
Matteo Turri
 - Introduction
 - Stages in quality assurance in Italian higher education
 - Conclusion: the trade-off between differentiation and standardisation
 - References

Audits of quality assurance systems of higher education institutions in Finland
Timo Ala-Vähälä and Taina Saarinen
 - The Finnish system of higher education
 - Brief background of government policy on external quality audits in Finland
 - Role of FINHEEC, the national quality assurance organization
 - How do the audits impact on quality management?
 - Audits and educational outcomes
 - Students’ role in quality management
 - The impact of audits at national, institutional and faculty level
 - The future challenges of higher education quality assurance
 - Note
 - References

External quality auditing: strengths and shortcomings in the audit process
Bjørn Stensaker
 - Introduction
 - External quality auditing in Norway
 - A process view on audits
 - Data and methods
 - The functioning and effects of external audits in Norway
 - Some final reflections
 - References

Institutional management and quality audit: the experience in Chile
María José Lemaitre, Mario Maturana, Elisa Zenteno and Andrea Alvarado
 - Development of external quality assurance schemes in Chile: an answer to the challenges of higher education evolution
 - A study to learn about the impact of quality audits
 - Results
 - Lessons learned and recommendations
 - Notes
 - References

Scope, transparency and style: system-level quality strategies and the student experience in Australia
Nigel Palmer
 - Introduction
 - External quality audit and the student experience
 - The Australian Universities Quality Agency and the Tertiary
 - Education Quality and Standards Agency
 - System-level quality strategies and the impact of external review
 - Conclusion: the merits of external review and prospects for future development
 - Note
 - References

Accreditation and institutional learning: the impact interactions based on a minimaxing strategy have on the benefits from external reviews
Fernando Padró
 - Introduction
 - Purpose of this chapter
 - Prelude: thoughts on the nature of learning
 - Learning as a stochastic proposition
 - Learning as a paradox
 - Perception and learning
 - The power of language used – who controls the narrative?
 - When learning happens
 - Limitations to organizational learning
 - Level 1: Nexus or nexum – type of interaction between HEIs and external agents
 - Level 2: Structural and cultural impacts on compliance
 - Conclusion
 - References

Has it worked globally?
Chenicheri Sid Nair
 - Introduction
 - Have audits been successful?
 - Where to from here?
 - References