Quality assurance and university governance

This article shows that the development of the quality assurance in the Austrian higher education system depends on the changes in governance, which have been the primary drivers of the ongoing evolution of quality assurance. The implementation of new quality assurance models and instruments has had both positive effects (e.g. regular reflection on self-performance, improving academic teaching) and negative consequences (e.g. focus on quantitative indicators instead of seeking insight and knowledge, non-productive expansion of peer-reviews, focus on form instead of content, forcing mainstream and industrial knowledge production instead of innovation). In order to enhance quality and quality assurance in the higher education system, there must be a comprehensive change in the governance system. If universities want to play an important role in the development of society, they must focus on cooperation and participation, both in their activities and in their organizational structures. Furthermore, it will be necessary to reduce the number of quality assurance instruments and focus the goals of quality assurance on development and reflection.
22.03.2013 | Lukas Mitterauer (Wien)