Exploring internal quality assurance management practices: Experiences of some quality assurance actors at the University of Ghana

Abstract

This article used a constructivist-interpretivist approach to explore the perspectives of quality assurance actors on internal quality assurance management practices at the University of Ghana (UG). Semi-structured interviews and document reviews were used to gather data from UG. The themes that emerged from the data indicated that UG has a comprehensive quality assurance policy, and policy implementation structure and uses a systems model of quality assurance management system made up of input, process, output, and outcome sub-systems. The results show that there is a lack of well–resourced quality assurance sub-committees at the policy implementation levels, inadequate quality assurance stakeholders’ involvement, and neglect of quality assurance measures for the educational outcome sub-system. The findings imply that for UG to improve its internal quality assurance management, there is a need to establish well-resourced quality assurance sub-committees at the policy implementation levels. In addition, quality assurance actors should involve all stakeholders stipulated in the quality assurance policy documents. The Academic Quality Assurance Unit should implement the educational outcome quality assurance measures by conducting tracer studies, employer satisfaction surveys, alumni surveys, and community perception surveys as stipulated in the UG’s quality assurance policy document.