STUDIES QUALITY: THE PROBLEMS AND IMPROVEMENT INSIGHTS

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STUDIES QUALITY: THE PROBLEMS AND IMPROVEMENT INSIGHTS

Journal Title: Role of Higher Education Institutions in Society: Challenges, Tendencies and Perspectives - Year 2014, Vol 1, Issue 3

Abstract

The aim of this study is to show the importance of quality in the economics and social field and to highlight peculiarities, problems and interferences of education quality assurance at universities and colleges. Methodology: the paper is prepared using scientific, methodical literature and legal acts, documentation comparative analysis and case study methodology. The conclusions are based on the research as well as the experience of consultancy activities when developing quality management systems in Lithuanian universities and colleges The quality outcomes should be achieved through systematic processes of the integrated quality management system; they should develop the civic-mindedness of students and academic community as a whole. The innovations and improvement of the quality management of universities should start from understanding the global and the national missions of higher education, and continued to align its mission, values, stakeholders’ needs, the goals of institutions, departments, processes, programs. The multi-level feedback should be followed by instant improvements. The conclusions are supported by an extended literature review. Findings: there are no clear mission statements of Lithuanian universities. This results in a wide spectrum of values, some of them being contradictory. The common values of traditional and business approach can be implemented through social responsibility. The identification and communication of stakeholders’ real needs lead to an improved quality assurance process in higher education, which comprises the following stages: a) to identify all needs of the customer, b) to question all needs and to differentiate between real needs and those evoked by the mass media, and c) to meet the customer’s real needs only. No universal management models for universities have been identified; therefore, every institution should develop a management model of its own, based on internationally recognized principles and on the needs of a particular society. Most of education institutions implementing quality management tools and principles confront with such major problems: complication of description of study quality concept and content; multiplicity of study quality indicators and their measurement and assessment delicacy; lack of skills using TQM concept, its principles, quality management models and methods; complication resolving university work into interdependent managed processes and process thinking formation; inertia and sometimes even resistance of part employees to fundamental changes.

Authors and Affiliations

Juozas Ruževičius

Keywords

aukštojo mokslo institucija kokybės vadyba studijų kokybė profesionalus dėstytojas studijų programos pertvarka Inovacija vertybių sistema

EP ID EP110629
DOI -
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