External quality audits are now being used in universities across the world to improve quality assurance, accountability for quality education and transparency of public funding of higher education. Some countries such as Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark have had external quality audits for more than a decade but there…

Current approaches to helping students learn, chiefly in Britain and involving groups rather than individuals, are reviewed and related to research on learning. Four issues are explored: learning and studying; problems of subject and context; change, autonomy and the learner; and the relationship between research and development. (Author/JMD)

The effectiveness of instructional development evaluation programs is assessed. It is suggested that although it is a basic tenet in instructional development that teaching improvement is closely linked to effective evaluation, it is ironical that most instructional development programs have themselves been evaluated only superficially, if at all.…

Describes a study conducted at Illinois State University that compared the results achieved by library users searching the ERIC database on CD-ROM with the results achieved by individual and teamed skilled intermediaries. Evaluation of library services is discussed, patron search strategies are examined, and strategies for improving patron…

This publication analyzes teacher education policy and practice with respect to teacher recruitment, induction, and continuing professional development with the intention of stimulating dialogue, debate, and collaboration among state agencies, state boards of education, teacher training institutions, legislators, and those involved in teacher…

Responses of college administrators in schools facing conditions of fiscal stress, and alternative strategies found to be effective in private sector firms are examined. It is suggested that many college administrators are responding to conditions of decline by being conservative and efficiency oriented. A number of factors within and outside the…

Results of a review of approximately 60 studies relevant to improving college teaching are considered, and a proposal for a study is presented. The interventions can be classified into four categories: workshops and seminars, grants for faculty projects, feedback from ratings by students, microteaching and minicourses, and protocol materials. It…

Needs and methods for the evaluation and development of higher education administrators are reviewed in this monograph. Three major reasons for evaluation are cited: external and internal pressure, improvement of performance of individual administrators, and improvement of performance of the institution. Different approaches to evaluation are…

Discusses four aspects of strengthening and maintaining existing programs: (1) systematic assessment of existing programs; (2) decisions emerging from this assessment; (3) the complementary roles of program directors and other staff members; and (4) methods for making positive program improvements. (Author)

Discusses the interactional model of learning and the andragogical model of the learner, then examines the implications of these two perspectives in detail with special emphasis on how they affect the college reading specialist's encounters with students who are concerned with independent learning strategies. (FL)

Examination of undergraduate business programs as preparation for postgraduate licensing shows that students would bring content deficiencies of one-third or more of the required subject matter. Careful program development accompanied by explicit plans to evaluate alternatives is necessary for the progress of program restructuring in teacher…

The University of Kansas Medical Center did a comprehensive review of the services provided in the Student Health Center (SHC). Using purpose-driven assessment techniques, areas needing improvement were identified. The results of the survey were presented to students and, with student support, student health fees were increased to fund desired…

With fewer recent high school graduates available to attend college, colleges need to increase their efforts to attract adults. If colleges want to attract more adult students, they must develop a comprehensive marketing plan. The marketing process entails a thorough marketing study that includes a detailed institutional analysis, an analysis of…

Focuses on what can be done when a program fails. What are the causes for failure? What elements must be considered in the decision process? What strategies can be employed to recycle resources into more productive activities? What alternatives are available to aid in program repair or rejuvenation? (Author)

The main argument for the inclusion of the history of adult education in the study of adult education and in the training of adult educators is that it can provide inspiration for some adult educators and insight and understanding for most. Although study of the history of adult education does not provide a detailed guide or formulas for success,…