Rankings, accreditation, and the international quest for quality

Abstract

Purpose – This paper seeks to analyze the internationalization of quality practices in higher education. In light of insufficient theorization about quality in the global dimension, the paper presents a model for value construction in higher education. Design/methodology/approach – The authors reviewed different models for quality in higher education vis-à-vis emerging international quality practices in higher education. Findings – After reviewing quality models and international quality practices, the authors argue that, in order to evaluate and improve quality in higher education, a model of value in higher education that connects quality with relevance, access, and investment is necessary. Research limitations/implications – Thus far, quality in higher education has been explored in isolation from access, relevance, and investment. The integrative approach suggested here may prove generative for researchers and help address complex educational interrogations. Practical implications – Higher education leaders are faced with decisions about quality; these leaders may benefit from connecting quality decisions with the demands on relevance, access, and investment that their local settings dictate. Originality/value – The concept of value is largely absent from conceptual discussions about quality in higher education; additionally, many discussions about quality in higher education seem to be isolated from their context. This paper addresses both these issues.

Qualidade na educação superior: uma revisão teórica da evolução conceitual no campo da educação superior

“…Nesta abordagem, a qualidade torna-se sinônimo de "melhores" práticas e diretrizes provenientes de instituições altamente conceituadas no mercado, a serem seguidas por entrantes e sobreviventes do segmento. Sua utilização acompanha o início dos debates acerca da transparência dos sistemas de educação superior, decorrente no início dos anos 1990, período no qual a "qualidade" torna-se justificativa para a aplicação de processos de mensuração, controle e regulação, saciando a necessidade social por transparência e accountability do período (BLANCO-RAMÍREZ;BERGER, 2014;ELASSY, 2015;GREEN, 1994;HARVEY, 2006).…”

“…De 2010 em diante, uma qualidade perfeita não é mais considerada um objetivo de possível alcance aos sistemas educacionais, o que gera questionamentos acerca de sua existência, resultando em uma desconstrução na pós-modernidade que lhe atribui caracteres sociais de cunho democrático (BERTOLIN, 2009;BLANCO-RAMÍREZ;BERGER, 2014).…”

Acreditaciones internacionales en escuelas de negocios. Una revisión de la literatura

“…Para las instituciones de Educación Superior, el tema se expresa más en prácticas que en conceptualizaciones de calidad, traducidas en la convergencia internacional de políticas, la expansión de los sistemas de acreditación (particularmente de influencia estadounidense) y los rankings (Blanco-Ramírez & Berger, 2014).…”

Using the QFD Matrix as a Major Continuous Improvement Tool to Improve Organizational Quality

“…HEI quality is part of the larger purpose of providing value to learners and other stakeholders based on responding to institutional surroundings influencing relevance, access and investment (Blanco-Ramirez & Berger, 2014). Consequently, as Asif et al, (2013) observed, when HEIs use techniques such as QFD these should draw and expand upon existing institutional knowledge.…”