Purpose: This paper aims to develop an overarching basis to consider issues of quality in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: An attempt is made to synthesise different approaches to management in higher education. Findings: The article concludes that it is possible to synthesise a model, based on existing literature, to uniquely address higher education. Research limitations/implications: The model developed is a conceptual one as emphasised by the title. Originality/value: Provides a thought framework for addressing the quality issues in higher education. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)