External quality assurance in higher education as a tool towards continuous improvement : a case study of two faculties in South Africa

Abstract

This study explored external quality assurance in South African Higher Education as a tool towards continuous improvement. The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) undertook external reviews of Teacher Education qualifications in faculties of education in South African universities. The process involved HEQC as an external body, through a consultative process with stakeholders, generated criteria and minimum standards to be used in the evaluation process. These criteria and minimum standards were used by faculties of education to carry out self-evaluation of their programmes. This process aimed at fulfilling accountability imperatives of accreditation as well as the developmental aspect entailed in the self-evaluation process and use of criteria and minimum standards. The aim of the study was to understand how the HEQC intervention promoted internal quality assurance practices towards continuous improvement.