Institutionalisation of Quality Assurance in an Ethiopian Public University

Quality assurance in the Ethiopian higher education has for long been external i.e. the evaluation of higher education institutions by HERQA. Since 2009 however necessary legal provisions requiring every higher education institution to set up institutional quality enhancement came into effect. Based on this development, the study investigated how quality assurance has been institutionalised in public universities. The study used a qualitative case study design. Data was collected from an anonymous case university through in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, document analysis, and non-participant observation. The data was analysed using an inductive analysis method. The findings of the study showed that the IQE centre of the case university carries out several activities targeted at assuring and enhancing academic quality. These include carrying out internal quality audit; monitoring and supervision of quality assurance; conducting program and course audits; curriculum review; developing instruments for quality assurance; giving trainings for academic staff; ensuring fair distribution of courses; liaising with HERQA; and celebrating educational quality day. In general, the IQE directorate strove to lead and assist the continual development and improvement of academic quality and relevance in the university. On the other hand, the study analysed the state of essential elements necessary for institutionalising quality assurance in the IQE centre of the case university. Accordingly, findings indicated that there are appropriate policies and structural establishments whereas leadership, resources, and information and communication are inadequate. Conversely, the status of capacity building, core values and rewarding quality has been low. Finally, the study revealed that the institutional quality enhancement of the case university vacillated between the experiential and early expansion phases of institutionalisation. Therefore, institutional support to the IQE centre should be strengthened if internal quality assurance is to further institutionalise and expand throughout the entire university