This article introduces a series of papers describing different approaches to quality assurance and evaluation in higher education, focusing on the Finnish approach to governance and evaluation which has moved from detailed control to outcome targeting accompanied by a strong reliance on the capacity of institutions to evaluate themselves. (JDD)

A discussion of institutional and program evaluation in higher education focuses on the need for congruence between the purposes of the assessment and the procedures used to accomplish it. The factors relating to success in evaluation are examined, with special attention given to those that promote improvement. (Author/MSE)

A method used in France to measure a university program's effectiveness at bringing students to the degree level is described. The method uses mathematical formulas to calculate indicators of success for a given cohort, which can then be compared for various programs. (MSE)

Describes the system of external institutional evaluation in Netherlands universities, distinguishing between the organizations conducting the assessment itself and the follow-up. The primary assessing organization is a private one, funded and governed by the 14 universities, and uses discipline-based assessment teams. The follow-up assessment is…

Reports on a Dutch study examining qualitative aspects of internationalization in Dutch higher education institutions, and examines the ways Dutch institutions evaluate Dutch students' academic experiences abroad. Raises the question of whether existing systems meet stated standards for quality assurance. Makes some recommendations for…

The evolution of the current relationship between state governments and institutions of higher education is chronicled, focusing on the oversight role taken on by the state in the interest of providing services and facilities for the public good. The place of student outcomes assessment in this relationship is examined. (MSE)

Describes the college accreditation processes in the United States within the larger context of state, federal, and institutional accountability and reviews some of the continuing debates over ways to improve accreditation. Notes key issues (gathering evidence and using expert judgment) receiving attention by accrediting agencies in recent years.…

Examines the results of Mexico's quality-oriented higher-education policies, in place since 1984 and designed to encourage improved faculty performance through economic incentives. The policies were enhanced further in the mid-1990s by establishing medium-term improvement strategies and using external evaluators and international experience to…

Origins of Australia's university quality improvement program are outlined, and its design is examined. Issues discussed include implications of the program for individual institutions, its proposed method of redistributing research funds, and potential problems associated with performance appraisal. (MSE)

Recently the Spanish higher education board launched a university evaluation program to institutionalize quality assessment as an extended, continuous, system-wide process. Self-study and external assessments are the program's cornerstones. The new quality assessment program and the experiences leading to it are explained. Potential problems and…

Examines problems in external university evaluation associated with a small country, such as Lithuania, including lack of resources, lack of competition, language of instruction, and program condensation as part of the transition from communist rule. Perceived needs include specific international academic standards, performance indicators, and…

Discussion of performance indicators, used for evaluation and funding of higher education institutions by some governments, looks at what is meant by the term and their role in government-institutional relations. A series of propositions for their definition and use are offered, with supporting information drawn from the experiences of different…

The mission of the university is to increase human capital in all its dimensions, or value added to human capital through production of valid knowledge. Education and research are by-products, representing learning and discovery. Teaching is a distribution process within education. Distribution of research occurs through products such as public…

Examines relationships which exist internationally between contexts, methods, and impact on institutions of external quality assessments in higher education. Argues that debates about quality assessment are frequently debates about power and change. Case studies of the University of Aalborg (Denmark), Uppsala University (Sweden), and Monash…

The program on Institutional Management in Higher Education of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has been exploring international use of performance indicators for evaluating higher education institutions. The concept's historical context and evolution, findings of a task force, and importance of institutional context in…