Evaluating the evaluator: private providers' views of a quality assurance agency. Issue 2 (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tamrat, Wondwosen
• Is Part Of: Quality in higher education. Volume 25:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 191
• Page End: 207
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) -- quality assurance system -- external quality audit -- Ethiopian higher education; Education, Higher -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Administration -- Periodicals; Enseignement supérieur -- Évaluation -- Périodiques; Enseignement supérieur -- Finalités -- Périodiques; Universités -- Administration -- Périodiques; 378
• DOI: 10.1080/13538322.2019.1636495
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8322

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) was established in Ethiopia to spearhead efforts in the assurance of quality at a national level. This study examined the views of private providers about the operational features and practices of HERQA. Findings revealed that despite its significant contributions in formalising and popularising a nationally designed quality assurance régime, private providers consider HERQA to be deficient as regards its capacity, resources, autonomy, communication, double standard practices and internal and external evaluation systems. Based on the findings, it is suggested that HERQA needs to mitigate its structural and operational deficiencies and boost its capacities if it seeks to respond favourably to the mounting challenges of the fledgling and fast-growing higher education system in Ethiopia.