Options
A study of an academic quality assurance system for an institute of technical education : from a total quality management perspective
Author
Tan, Teck Hwa
Supervisor
Crawford, Lachlan
Shutler, Paul
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of introducing an academic quality assurance system at ITE Dover, a technical institute of the institute of Technical Education (ITE), Singapore, from a total quality management (TQM) perspective. Specifically, it aims to find out whether a TQM-based academic quality assurance system could succeed at ITE Dover, the positive steps to be taken and obstacles to be overcome when introducing TQM.
A survey instrument was used to gather an overview of the quality culture at ITE Dover. Questions were designed to gain a picture of the areas in which academic quality assurance was already established, the extent to which it was practiced, and the degree of staffs' involvement in these areas. Close to 100 staff participated in the survey.
The results of the study indicated the following.
● A TQM-based academic quality assurance system is likely to succeed at ITE Dover.
● The positive steps to be taken are : strengthening the communication between management and staff on the importance of quality training: streamlining processes to ensure that department plans are implemented; making the use of performance indicators (such as examination pass rate, cost of training, attrition rate, etc) to assess students' learning outcomes more explicit; reviewing the approach through which staffs' feedback is obtained; reviewing the conduct of post-training evaluation; strengthening the process of identifying staffs' training needs; and ensuring training are affectivity implemented.
● The obstacles to be overcome are : eliminating staffs' feeling that they are left out of important decision making; the gap of knowledge on curriculum review among staff; bridging the gap of knowledge among staff on the work of their colleagues; and addressing staffs' concern of insufficient time for their own training and development.
Based on the findings, the study also recommends a TQM framework which ITE Dover could consider implementing. However, a set of indicators focussing on the institute's efforts in addressing its concerns, and in grading its levels of attainment needs to be developed. This is proposed as possible further research.
Quality and TQM are important topics for everyone who is involved in education. This issue is how to apply the concept of TQM in academic quality assurance to embrace change and innovation yet offer strategies by which the process can become an opportunity rather than a threat. The ultimate challenge is to democratise institutions by devolution of decision making, and at the same time retain a powerful concept of leadership through which the momentum of education management can be propelled to greater heights, and the pursuit for academic excellence can become a reality.
A survey instrument was used to gather an overview of the quality culture at ITE Dover. Questions were designed to gain a picture of the areas in which academic quality assurance was already established, the extent to which it was practiced, and the degree of staffs' involvement in these areas. Close to 100 staff participated in the survey.
The results of the study indicated the following.
● A TQM-based academic quality assurance system is likely to succeed at ITE Dover.
● The positive steps to be taken are : strengthening the communication between management and staff on the importance of quality training: streamlining processes to ensure that department plans are implemented; making the use of performance indicators (such as examination pass rate, cost of training, attrition rate, etc) to assess students' learning outcomes more explicit; reviewing the approach through which staffs' feedback is obtained; reviewing the conduct of post-training evaluation; strengthening the process of identifying staffs' training needs; and ensuring training are affectivity implemented.
● The obstacles to be overcome are : eliminating staffs' feeling that they are left out of important decision making; the gap of knowledge on curriculum review among staff; bridging the gap of knowledge among staff on the work of their colleagues; and addressing staffs' concern of insufficient time for their own training and development.
Based on the findings, the study also recommends a TQM framework which ITE Dover could consider implementing. However, a set of indicators focussing on the institute's efforts in addressing its concerns, and in grading its levels of attainment needs to be developed. This is proposed as possible further research.
Quality and TQM are important topics for everyone who is involved in education. This issue is how to apply the concept of TQM in academic quality assurance to embrace change and innovation yet offer strategies by which the process can become an opportunity rather than a threat. The ultimate challenge is to democratise institutions by devolution of decision making, and at the same time retain a powerful concept of leadership through which the momentum of education management can be propelled to greater heights, and the pursuit for academic excellence can become a reality.
Date Issued
2000
Call Number
LC1047.S55 Tan
Date Submitted
2000