Implementation of Quality Assurance Systems in East African Public Universities: A Preliminary Assessment

Abstract

Worldwide, it is acknowledged that education is the engine of national development as it empowers
individuals to improve their skills and reduce inequality on various fronts. Higher education plays a
significant role as agents in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The drive for quality
assurance in higher educational institutions has recently become key, especially when evaluating their
performance. The establishment of quality assurance offices and setting regional, national and university
policy frameworks are some of the key strategies to improve quality of education. Despite the quality
assurance institutionalization and the policy frameworks in place, the general performance of universities
remains problematic. Using documentary review of literature, focus group discussions and interviews of
academic staff in two East Africa Universities, this paper documents and examines the difficulties in
implementing quality assurance systems in African Public Universities. The study discovered that scarce
financial resources, inadequate human resources, negative perceptions, lack of better understanding about
what the Office of Quality Assurance does and doesn’t do and poor physical infrastructure are the major
difficulties hindering the implementation of effective quality assurance systems in higher institutions of
learning. Ideas for improvement include availing more funds to the quality assurance units and granting
them more autonomy.