Broadening Perceptions and Parameters for Quality Assurance in University Operations in Uganda
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Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This article explores the stakeholders’ perceptions of quality in university operations in Uganda, specifically in terms of the core functions of teaching, research and community engagement. Conceptually, universities aim to transform, modernise and develop science and technology. A review of the literature suggests that many university communities are an elite group of professors and students who live in relative isolation. Within this ‘protective environment’ occurs a significant research milieu which is more basic than applied and, thereby, not relevant to local systems and somewhat foreign to community members. Further, the linkage between research results and institution policy makers is minimal or non-existent. In light of this background, it is argued that typical quality assurance (QA) initiatives in many universities focus on establishing operational efficiency of conventional structures of teaching and research. The study investigates comprehensiveness of parameters used by various stakeholders to determine quality in and of university education. Making reference to community engagement as one of the universities’ core functions, this study investigates whether community issues and social welfare are central in the conceiving, planning and implementing QA initiatives. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to generate data; specifically, questionnaires, interviews, content analysis of academic and non-academic programme and documents reviews were analysed. Preliminary findings reveal a stronger focus on conventional teaching and scholarly research than on community engagement initiatives. Conceptualisation of a quality university education by various stakeholders (students, lecturers, administration, parents
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Keywords
Quality Assurance, University Operations, Uganda
Citation
Kakembo, F., & Barymak, R. M. (2017). Broadening Perceptions and Parameters for Quality Assurance in University Operations in Uganda. Journal of Higher Education in Africa/Revue de l'enseignement supérieur en Afrique, 15(1), 69-88.