An investigation into the perceptions of academic staff on quality assurance in teaching and learning at selected South African universities

Abstract

During the last decade South African higher education has undergone various changes in terms of new policies and legislation, an increasing diverse student population, participating governance structures, declining enrolment figures and different modes of programme delivery. Apart from adjusting to these changing circumstances higher education has to compete in a competitive global and national environment where students have a variety of institutions and delivery modes to choose from, although only one pool of potential students exists. In this competitive environment academics are forced to demonstrate the quality of what they are doing and consider the effectiveness thereof. Academics also have different views regarding a quality assurance system. Some view it as a form of managerial control, while others feel such a system can ensure improvement. This study was therefore initiated to investigate how South African academics perceive the implementation of a quality assurance system that is initiated by government.


South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.15(3) 2001: 131-142