Description
Book SynopsisAlthough quality assurance (QA) in higher education has been well established for many years, the world of QA is changing. This timely book takes an insightful look from a nonprofit sector perspective at how these changes are impacting accreditation of higher education institutions.
Using empirical data on agencies within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), Stefan Handke provides a thorough review of external assessments carried out by these agencies and reveals the transformation of nonprofit organisations with a public interest orientation into business-like organisations. The book further examines the negative impact on one of the most important functions of QA agencies: the creation of trust and how a change in the rules for external QA is required to alleviate this issue. Forward-thinking, the book also highlights the implications of these rule changes and the importance of them to ensure the survival of accreditation agencies.
The expert analysis of the data within this book will be an invaluable resource for those working within QA agencies as well as stakeholders in higher education and researchers in the nonprofit sector. Students studying in the fields of public management and organisation studies will also find this book instructive and informative.
Trade Review‘This consideration of quality assurance (QA) and accreditation bodies, primarily in the EHEA, posits a tension between the non-profit status of these organizations intended to serve the common good and their structures as business entities engaged in at least some commercial activity. By framing this tension and exploring its likely impact, Stefan Handke challenges the thinking of especially those who deem change in QA and accreditation as essential to effectively serving higher education institutions and society in the future.’ -- Judith S. Eaton, President Emeritus, Council for Higher Education Accreditation, US
‘This is an interesting book, which is a valuable contribution to the literature on QA in higher education. The use of economic and business insights are relevant for the sector of HE. They lead to challenging thoughts on chances for QA-agencies to play a meaningful role in developing a stronger EHEA.’ -- Karl Dittrich, President of EQAR, Belgium
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Get the show on the road: introducing higher education quality assurance and nonprofit organisations 2. Staking the claim: quality assurance in higher education 3. Taking stock: quality assurance from a (nonprofit) business perspective 4. Explaining trends: nonprofit QA agencies becoming business-like 5. Exploring dynamics: the future system of higher education quality assurance 6. Conclusion Index
