Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of preservice literacy coursework in a sample of graduate speech-language pathology programs in the United States and to investigate the relationship between the likelihood that programs offered literacy coursework and (a) geographical region, (b) Carnegie Classification of research…

Quality assurance and quality development represent central challenges of higher education institutions (HEIs). In this context, the term quality culture has gained increasing attention. Quality culture refers to an organizational culture, which emphasizes the importance of continuous quality improvement, shared attitudes, and commitment towards…

This article seeks to spark a dialectic discussion on the establishment of a set of professional competencies for quality assurance practitioners who serve in external quality assurance agencies in higher education. Such a need is identified due to the shortage of relevant and sufficient coverage in the quality assurance literature. To…

The quality of e-learning can be defined in many different ways, reflecting different stakeholders and the complexity of the systems and processes used in higher education. These different conceptions of quality can be mutually contradictory and, while politically significant, may also be beyond the direct control or influence of institutional…

This article considers how TUNING-compatible programme profiles could be developed in the Russian Federation in the context of: on-going reform of the higher education; introduction of the new generation of Federal State Educational Standards (FSES); development of the new professional standards; implementation of a system of public accreditation…

The Education Scotland publication, "External Quality Arrangements for Scotland's Colleges, Updated August 2013," specifies that Education Scotland will produce a number of subject-based aspect reports each year. These reports complement, in a subject-specific context, the generic evaluations of learning and teaching in Education…

The article grounds the structure of the external evaluation of colleges at the level of the non-university higher education sector, and it reveals the problems met in this process as well as possibilities for their solution: the phenomenon of the external evaluation of colleges is discussed and its concept is presented; the external evaluation…

The state of higher education today is one of change and stasis. Economic vulnerability, globalization, technological innovation, and an increasingly competitive market underlie the need for change in higher education. At the same time, there are strong and stubborn forces at work supporting the status quo. Though daunting, institutions of higher…

The authors discuss the Higher Education Evaluation Center, the administrative body under the auspices of the Chinese Ministry of Education responsible for organizing and conducting evaluation of baccalaureate and associate degree programs offered at different universities and colleges in China. The Center also conducts research on regulations and…

Discusses the notion of continuous quality measurement for outcomes assessment in higher education and describes a technology-based continuous quality measurement system (QMS) that has been developed and implemented at the University of Louisville. Discusses the role of QMS in the university's quality improvement scheme and its initial impacts on…

The College Outcomes Evaluation Program, a New Jersey assessment plan, is intended to serve as an official blueprint for improving state higher education. It outlines specific goals for gauging quality but gives institutions leeway to carry them out. (MLW)

Describes Louisiana's "accreditation as incentive" program and Tennessee's program of Performance Funding. Discusses voices of dissent to these programs. Concludes that these two programs are not used as an arbitrary or capricious club but rather as an inducement to maintain program quality in the face of higher education budget cuts.…

A State University of New York program is described in order to illustrate how self-assessment can serve two purposes: accreditation and sound institutional growth. In order to establish systems of self-assessment that support growth, the institution must identify and understand the obstacles it faces. (Author/MLW)

A National Association of College and University Business Officers project collects data on college administrative and business costs and compiles them for comparative purposes. The unpublished findings are available to participants to gauge institutional efficiency. However, some feel more institutions must participate for data to be useful. (MSE)

This annual report provides evaluation of specific academic centers at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reflecting specific goals, associated outcome measures, and attainment status relative to the goals. Twelve sections focus on the: (1) Abraham S. Fischler Center for the Advancement of Education; (2) Center for Computer…