ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL QUALITY ASSURANCE PRACTICES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

In Pakistan, all higher education institutions are accredited by the Higher Education Commission and have formed a directorate of quality assurance to accomplish the quality goal and enforce internal quality assurance policies through the quality enhancement cells (QECs). Quality assurance systems within the institutional level that are built in a strong quality culture tend to be more effective in improving the quality of learning experiences and academic achievements compared to externally driven quality assurance. Considering the importance of institutional quality assurance practices, the study was intended to analyze the current status of institutional quality assurance practices in public and private universities of Islamabad, Pakistan. The objectives of the study were to investigate institutional quality assurance practices currently implemented in public and private universities, and to compare institutional quality assurance practices in public and private universities. The sample of the study constituted fifty-eight faculty members, selected through the universal sampling method, and 356 students through the stratified random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (independent sample t-test) to identify difference in terms of institutional quality assurance practices between both public and private universities.  The findings of the study showed there was no considerable difference in the views of students and faculty members of both sectors regarding quality assurance practices, employed by quality assurance agency by Higher Education Commission. The results of the study showed both public and private universities maintain their institutional quality assurance practices in terms of academic quality, program evaluations for quality improvement, research development activities and service quality, but they are grappling with common challenges regarding institutional facilities such as number of classrooms, inadequate transportation facilities, scholarship opportunities. Based on the conclusion, the study recommends that the Higher Education Commission and Quality Assurance Agency may work to improve institutional facilities along with academic quality. Further Quality Assurance Agency may develop an effective and structured institutional Quality Assurance scheme to enhance the quality progress of institutions.