The document discusses a research project by IIEP that explores innovative methods for internal quality assurance (IQA) in higher education, highlighting the challenges and the need for sustainable improvement. It outlines a case study approach involving eight universities across various regions, aiming to understand effective IQA systems and their impact on academic quality and management. The methodology includes qualitative and quantitative data collection, while acknowledging limitations in generalizability and focus areas.

1. EXPLORING INNOVATIVE AND
EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR
IQA
– RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
CIES Conference, Vancouver
6-10 March 2016
MICHAELA MARTIN,
IIEP Programme Specialist
An IIEP research project

2. THIS PANEL
 The IIEP research project on « Exploring
innovative and effective solutions for
internal quality assurance (IQA)»
 The case of IQA at Xiamen University
 A comparative overview on the research
findings
 A commentary on the project

3. 1. Introduction
 « Quality crisis » in higher education since
1980s
 International trend : External Quality
Assurance (EQA)
 Since 2000, EQA is a major focus of
research and capacity development at the
UNESCO/IIEP
 But without IQA, no sustainable quality
improvement
 IQA therefore is a major reform strand
 in HE worldwide

4. 2. Variation in definition of IQA
 Internal Quality Assurance: procedures and
instruments which measure whether a higher
education institution is in line with external
standards and its own development goals in its
fields of activities (UNESCO).
 IQA refers to quality enhancement processes if
they are directly derived from measurement
procedures and instruments (ESG)
 IQA systems are an integrated whole which
together support quality policy and institutional
goals (IIEP).

5. 3. Major Challenges
 Articulation of IQA instruments among each other
 Articulation of IQA with strategic planning,
management
 Balance between centralized and decentralized
structures
 Information systems, data management and
analytical capacities
 Human and financial resource constraints

6. 4. Three major research
questions
 What are innovative and effective options for IQA
policy, structures, processes and instruments ?
 What are the effects of such IQA systems on
 the quality and relevance of academic programmes
(employability of graduates), and
 managerial effectiveness ?
 What internal and external factors condition the
effective functioning of IQA systems?

7. 6. Research methodology
Case study research design
 Better understand IQA systems within
their national and institutional contexts
 Exploratory and descriptive design
 Mixed methods data collection process
to study the effects

8. 7. IIEP’s role in the project
 IIEP set the research framework
 IIEP selected identified the universities
selected as case studies and the research
teams
 IIEP prepared the research instruments and
discussed methodology with the research
teams
 IIEP accompanied the preparation of the case
studies, organized a research validation
workshop

9. 8. Primary Data sources
Integrated qualitative and quantitative design
 Online surveys of academic and administrative staff on
perceptions of the local IQA system, their effects and
conditioning factors
 Semi-structured interviews with key actors
 Central and middle level academic and
administrative decision-makers
 Focus group discussions
 Head of departments with selected programme
directors
 Students

10. 9. Secondary Data sources
 Content analysis of official documents to
document effects
 EQA Reports (e.g. institutional or programme
accreditation)
 University annual reports
 University statistics
 Reports produced by IQA structure
 Triangulation of different actors’ perspectives
 Triangulation of perceptions and secondary
data sources

11. 10. Selection of eight university
case studies
Europe:
▪ University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
▪ Economics University of Vienna, Austria
Asia:
▪ Xiamen University, China
▪ International American
University of Bangladesh
Anglophone Africa:
▪ Daystar University, Kenya
▪ University of the Free State, South Africa
Latin America region:
▪ Talca University, Chile
Arab region:
▪ University of Bahrain

12. 11. Scope and limitations
 Focus on IQA mainly in the domain of T&L and
management, not on research
 Actors’ perceptions only a proxy for change,
not impact assessment
 Case study design does not produce
generalizable results, however insights into the
effective functioning of IQA methods in specific
contexts