Abstract:
Quality of higher education is believed to be one of the most important
aspects of human resource development, creation of knowledge and social uplift
in a country. Higher education institutions in general and policy institutions
including Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in particular are realizing
their increasing role in national uplift through improving quality of higher
education.
Purposes of this study are manifold: to explore types of quality
improvements, reforms and initiatives that took place in higher education in
Pakistan since its inception; to review available quality assurance models for
higher education institutions that contribute in continuous quality improvement in
HEIs. Furthermore, primary data are collected in order to determine the attitude
and perceptions of faculty members, senior academicians and administrators
towards quality improvement practices in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Moreover, the intention is to explore the status of implementation of quality
assurance practices and their implications on the institutional performance in the
context of higher education. Also, the study develops constructs that can
contribute to the continuous improvement in the quality of higher education.
Finally, Indigenous Quality Assurance Model for HEIs is developed in this study
which is believed appropriate and applicable to address quality of higher
education in the country.
The findings of this research will be useful in order to address the quality
assurance issues at multiple levels: national policy, HEIs management and
various stakeholders including faculty members. The components contributing in
continuous quality system improvement in HEIs are addressed at length. Finally,
the model developed in this work can be used at all the levels addressed above
for quality assurance purposes
