Governing and managing higher education institutions: The quality audit contributions

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the role and effects of national accreditation practices in the improvement and development of the Omani private higher educational institutions in term of Governance and Management. A documental collection, revision and analysis was performed in order to enhance our understandings of the impact of quality audit in terms of Governance and Management. The study focused on analysing the quality audit reports of 25 assessed Omani HEIs. It covered published reports of all private institutions who already completed the first stage of national accreditation process. From one side, the data analysis showed us that the majority of the Omani private higher education institutions operate their activities without having a clear strategic direction. Also, they don't have performant governance and management systems. From another side, a progress was observed in terms of institutional Affiliations for Programs and Quality Assurance, Student's grievance processes and Health and Safety management. Among other things, the findings revealed that the Omani HEIs perceive quality assessment programs as strategical imposed tool made under the constraint of accountability, rather than an effective mechanism of development.

Keywords: Corporate governance; Management of higher education institutions; Quality audit; Quality enhancement; Sultanate of Oman.