The Australian Higher Education Quality Assurance Framework

Introduction

Throughout the world there has been a move to mass higher education, associated with greater diversity of institutions and programmes and a large increase in the number and size of universities. This expansion of higher education has prompted the rise of a variety of modes of course delivery, including franchising arrangements with third parties under which the parent institution may exercise limited control, virtual course delivery, as well as the delivery of courses through satellite campuses situated at a substantial distance from the institution’s main campus. All these developments pose challenges for the efficacy of institutional quality controls.

In addition to the changes impacting the higher education sector referred to above, other new pressures are emerging, both nationally and internationally. Australia’s national policy environment encourages universities to seek greater commercial opportunities and align themselves more closely with industry needs. Efforts by the higher education sector to attract business investment rely to a considerable extent on available evidence attesting to the quality of their service and the skill level of their graduates. Formal, transparent and credible systems of quality assurance will help guarantee a successful future for Australian universities in this environment.

The world’s workforce is becoming increasingly geographically fluid across national, regional and international borders due to economic globalisation and the development of advanced communications and information technologies. In this context, knowledge has emerged as an economic commodity which has in turn placed pressure on existing national systems to ensure they are placed competitively in the international marketplace.

There is currently a strong move throughout developed countries towards having rigorous, internationally recognised higher education quality assurance processes. Foreign governments and institutions considering education relationships with Australia, and families considering personal education investment must have confidence in the quality of Australian universities and in the quality and reputation of Australian degrees.

These changes in organisation, scale and mode of delivery have led to increased public concern about the maintenance of programme quality. In response, many countries have taken steps to establish mechanisms for quality assurance in higher education. Governments must justify spending on higher education in competition with other demands for public spending. Communities whose taxes must support the system and individuals who need to be satisfied about the value and portability of their credentials all demand external validation of the quality of their investments.

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This page was last updated on Tuesday, 26 August 2008
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