The Future of Education
Internal Quality Assurance Practices In Public Higher Education Institutions In Botswana
Marien Alet Graham, University of Pretoria (South Africa)
Tefo McDonald Phiri, University of Pretoria, South Africa (South Africa)
Celeste Combrinck, University of Pretoria, South Africa (South Africa)
Abstract
The demand for knowledge and skills has resulted in the massification of higher education, thus putting a strain on institutional resources amid constraints in funding by governments across the globe. The increase in demand for higher education has negatively affected higher institutions’ provision of quality education [1-2]. The purpose of the study is to investigate how effective the institutional quality assurance structures are in autonomous public institutions in Botswana and how the quality assurance structures carry out the quality assurance activities within the institutions. The study employed an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative research approach to explore the participants’ perceptions of the phenomenon. To obtain in-depth and rich data, a multiple case study research design was conducted across three institutions, allowing for a comparison of data gathered from each institution. The target population was autonomous public institutions; a total of five members participated from each institution and purposive and convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured questions and through the review of institutional documents. The main findings revealed that although quality assurance structures were in place, they needed to be enhanced in several areas to make them more effective. Areas for enhancement included the need for a culture of quality assurance and awareness of quality assurance, which should be supported by management. The study contributes knowledge in the field of quality assurance in higher education and provides recommendations to improve practice and inform policy in the Botswana higher education sector.
Keywords: Botswana Higher Education Institutions, Quality assurance, quality assurance structures, regulatory bodies.
Referemces:
1] K. H. J. Chen, and A. Y. C. Hou, “Adopting self-accreditation in response to the diversity of higher education: quality assurance in Taiwan and its impact on institutions,” Asia Pacific Education Review, vol. 17, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1-11.
[2] S. Schwartzman, R. Pinheiro, and P. Pillay, Higher Education in the BRICS countries: Investigating the pact between higher education and society. New York: NY, Springer, 2015.
