External and internal quality audits in higher education

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the maintenance of the process‐based quality assurance system in a higher education institution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces the process management as the essential element of quality assurance in higher education and discusses the external quality audit of the quality assurance agency, extends the study to the quality management between the external audits and presents the procedure of internal quality audits. Finally, the results of the study are discussed and summarised. Action research methodology was adopted in this study. The paper shows that the process‐based quality assurance system makes the organisation responsive, agile and enables the achievement of strategic objectives.

Findings

The audit group must first evaluate the necessary improvements in the process. If no improvements are found, the quality deviations must be reported. The audit helps the institution take corrective actions to amend the process descriptions or maintain the processes.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the necessary processes of a higher education institution can be systematically described and audited.

Citation

Kettunen, J. (2012), "External and internal quality audits in higher education", The TQM Journal, Vol. 24 No. 6, pp. 518-528. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542731211270089