4 - Institutional Constraints Affecting Quality Assurance Processes in Tanzania’s Private Universities
Corresponding Author(s) : Johnson Muchunguzi Ishengoma
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 15 No. 1 (2017): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Trends in Higher Education and Quality Assurance in East Africa
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the institutional constraints of quality assurance processes in Tanzania’s private universities and colleges. The descriptive survey design combines qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Purposive, stratified, and random sampling procedures are used to select a sample of 486 participants in the study who comprised 191 academic staff, 291 students, and 4 quality assurance officials from four private universities. Questionnaires and interviews are used for data collection. The findings indicate that inadequate financing, lack of capacity in terms of adequate, qualified and experienced human resources to undertake quality assurance functions, lack of clear and viable quality assurance policies, lack of awareness on quality assurance issues, and lack of academic leadership were the identified major institutional constraints to quality assurance processes in Tanzania’s private universities. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are also discussed.
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- Badiru, E. O., 2016, ‘Conducting Graduate Tracer Studies for Quality Assurance in East African Universities: A Focus on Graduate Students Voices on Quality Culture’, Journal of Education and Practice, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 174–181.
- Black, S. A., 2015, ‘Qualities of effective leadership in higher education’, Open Journal of Leadership, No. 4, pp. 54–66. Available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ ojl.2015.4200.
- Hayward, F., 2006, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education in Africa, Ouagadougou.
- Ishengoma, J., 2007, ‘The debate on quality and private surge: a status review of private universities and colleges in Tanzania’, Boston College and Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, Vol. 5, Nos 2 and 3, pp. 85–109.
- Israel, G., 1992, Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact: Program Evaluation and Organizational Development, Florida: University of Florida.
- Materu, P., 2007, Higher Education Quality Assurance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Status, Challenges, Opportunities and Promising Practices, Washington DC: World Bank.
- Matimbo, F., 2002, The Growth of Private Universities and Private University Colleges in Tanzania, M. Phil. Dissertation, University of Oslo.
- Sabaya, W., 2006, Tanzania’s System of Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, A Paper presented at the International Conference on Quality Assurance and Recognition of Certificates in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Simon, P., 2010, Academic Staff Capacities and Utilization in Private Universities in Tanzania, MEMA Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.
- Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2012, Universities Accreditation. (www.tcu.tz/ universities/accreditation.php.rect).
- Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2014, Quality Assurance General Guidelines and Minimal Standards for Provision of University Education in Tanzania,2nd ed., Dar es Salaam: TCU. Available online at http://www.tcu.go.tz/images/pdf/QA%20GUIDELINES%20AND%20STANDARDS.pdf.Accessed on 9 April 2016.
- Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2015, Statistical Data of Teaching Staff in Higher Education Institutions 2015. Available online at http://www.tcu.go.tz/images/pdf/Statistical%20Data%20of%20Teaching%20Staff%20ih%20Higher%20Education%20Institutions%202015.pdf3.
- United Republic of Tanzania, 1999, National Higher Education Policy, Dar es Salaam: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
- United Republic of Tanzania, 2005, Universities Act, Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
- United Republic of Tanzania, 2011, Universities and University Colleges in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam: Directorate of Higher Education.
- Watty, K., 2003, ‘When will academics learn about quality?’, Quality in Higher Education, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 14–27.
- Woodward, R., 2003, Case study: Cape Technikon, Paper presented at the HEQC Quality Assurance Managers’ Forum, Johannesburg.
- Yang, L., 2011, ‘Formal education teaching quality assurance system strategy’, Journal ofAdult Education, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 28–29.
References
Badiru, E. O., 2016, ‘Conducting Graduate Tracer Studies for Quality Assurance in East African Universities: A Focus on Graduate Students Voices on Quality Culture’, Journal of Education and Practice, Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 174–181.
Black, S. A., 2015, ‘Qualities of effective leadership in higher education’, Open Journal of Leadership, No. 4, pp. 54–66. Available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ ojl.2015.4200.
Hayward, F., 2006, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Education in Africa, Ouagadougou.
Ishengoma, J., 2007, ‘The debate on quality and private surge: a status review of private universities and colleges in Tanzania’, Boston College and Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, Vol. 5, Nos 2 and 3, pp. 85–109.
Israel, G., 1992, Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact: Program Evaluation and Organizational Development, Florida: University of Florida.
Materu, P., 2007, Higher Education Quality Assurance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Status, Challenges, Opportunities and Promising Practices, Washington DC: World Bank.
Matimbo, F., 2002, The Growth of Private Universities and Private University Colleges in Tanzania, M. Phil. Dissertation, University of Oslo.
Sabaya, W., 2006, Tanzania’s System of Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education, A Paper presented at the International Conference on Quality Assurance and Recognition of Certificates in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
Simon, P., 2010, Academic Staff Capacities and Utilization in Private Universities in Tanzania, MEMA Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2012, Universities Accreditation. (www.tcu.tz/ universities/accreditation.php.rect).
Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2014, Quality Assurance General Guidelines and Minimal Standards for Provision of University Education in Tanzania,2nd ed., Dar es Salaam: TCU. Available online at http://www.tcu.go.tz/images/pdf/QA%20GUIDELINES%20AND%20STANDARDS.pdf.Accessed on 9 April 2016.
Tanzania Commission for Universities, 2015, Statistical Data of Teaching Staff in Higher Education Institutions 2015. Available online at http://www.tcu.go.tz/images/pdf/Statistical%20Data%20of%20Teaching%20Staff%20ih%20Higher%20Education%20Institutions%202015.pdf3.
United Republic of Tanzania, 1999, National Higher Education Policy, Dar es Salaam: Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
United Republic of Tanzania, 2005, Universities Act, Dar es Salaam: Government Printer.
United Republic of Tanzania, 2011, Universities and University Colleges in Tanzania, Dar es Salaam: Directorate of Higher Education.
Watty, K., 2003, ‘When will academics learn about quality?’, Quality in Higher Education, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 14–27.
Woodward, R., 2003, Case study: Cape Technikon, Paper presented at the HEQC Quality Assurance Managers’ Forum, Johannesburg.
Yang, L., 2011, ‘Formal education teaching quality assurance system strategy’, Journal ofAdult Education, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 28–29.