This paper investigates research quality criteria in the Creative Arts (CA). The CA has been introduced into the higher education and research sector over the last three decades. It is thus a relatively new research field and there is little empirical knowledge on how outputs in this field should be evaluated. Our study applies a mixed-method…

Purpose: This study aims to offer an original criterion of assessment for examiners of practice-based doctorates in contemporary arts practices, based upon the degree of intrigue, perceptual and conceptual, afforded by the research outputs. It is argued that intrigue is the necessary stimulus for the states of attention required for the…

Purpose: The study addresses the critical need for a performance measurement model tailored to universities in fragile countries. It aims to identify and prioritise criteria and sub-criteria within the model, specifically designed to accommodate the unique challenges faced by the higher education institutions in fragile nations.…

This paper argues that Ofsted's initial approach to the use of criteria encouraged a misguided view of how inspection judgements should be made and, at worst, militated against the professional discussion between inspectors and schools that should always have been at the heart of the process.

This research addresses two important developments in the academic field: First, universities are transforming into organisational actors, gaining more responsibilities and capacities for strategic action, and second, competition has reached a new level. An important driver of competition and universities' development towards strategic actorhood…

There has been an increasing interest in research performance in recent years. However, in previous studies, research performance has generally been measured by traditional methods. In this study, a model based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods is proposed to evaluate the research performance of universities. In order to apply the…

This study employs the Delphi method to ascertain intercultural scholars' current consensus on a definition, specific components, and key evaluation criteria of intercultural competence. Sixty-eight leading intercultural scholars from Euro-American and East-Asian countries participated in this study. The results are largely congruent with the…

Traditionally in England, exam results in General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) (and before them O levels) and A levels have been reported as letter grades, with A (or A*) as the top grade, then B, C etc. The reforms gave the opportunity to revisit the arguments for different formats of reporting, and Cambridge Assessment contributed…

Research capacity building is a process by which individuals and organizations develop skills and infrastructure resulting in greater ability to conduct useful research. Frequently, research quality and productivity measures focus on outcomes, such as peer-reviewed publications or grants awarded. Such distal measures are not informative when…

Providing a sustainable distance education is paramouth of importance as a highly complex process requieing the involvement of various stakeholders. The purpose of this study is to investigate the criteria affecting the sustainability of distance education (DE) in higher education institutions, and to understand the differences in several internal…

Purpose: Improving and assuring the quality of higher education has become a key element of policy agendas worldwide. To this end, a complete accountability system has been developed through various evaluation procedures. Specifically, this study analyzes the perceptions of university teaching staff on the impact of performance appraisal systems…

Little research has exclusively focused on the accessibility of AC, despite their substantial impacts on students' and tutors' engagement with AC and the facilitative role of AC for assessment and learning. Drawing upon sequential online surveys and interviews with undergraduate students from diverse disciplines in a British university,…

Purpose: This study intends to investigate the determinants of learners' continuance intention to use massive open online courses (MOOCs) for personal or professional development. Design/methodology/approach: This study employed quantitative research design. The respondents were individual learners from six selected universities in China who used…

This study looks at assessment of PhD theses from two perspectives: criteria in use in assessment reports at a science faculty and norms of science. Fifty assessment reports were analysed inductively, resulting in thirteen categories that examiners consider when assessing a thesis. These categories were compared with norms of science as described…

Achieving a PhD degree is viewed by academic institutions as a major landmark of success and achievement. It gives recognition to researchers and provides entry into academia. A PhD degree is not awarded lightly and doctoral candidates undergo a rigorous examination process. This study seeks to gain a better understanding of the way in which…