The indomitable spirit of higher education paves the way for the growth of a nation in the political, economic, social, intellectual and spiritual dimensions. Teacher education is one of the areas in higher education which trains student-teachers in pedagogy, which in turn helps them to train the young minds of educational institutions. The…

The Commonwealth of Learning is proud to partner with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Higher Education and UNESCO to produce this "Quality Assurance Toolkit for Distance Higher Education Institutions and Programmes". The Toolkit has been prepared with three features. First, it is a generic document on quality assurance, complete with a…

The basic philosophy of organization and management of a learning resource center is to maximize the effectiveness/efficiency for the use of all resources and establish proper management control and cost effectiveness. Qualities should include accountability, consistent service, reliable professional consulting, and standardized procedures. A…

Quality system awards offer blueprints for assessing quality in vocational education as well as in business and industry. The three most prestigious awards recognizing quality improvement in business and industry are the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award, Deming Application Prize, and ISO 9000 Registration. When comparing standards for the quality…

Based on research conducted in and around universities in the United Kingdom, this book analyzes quality assurance in continuing professional education (CPE). An introduction provides a close look at the terms "quality,""quality assurance," and "CPE." Part I deals with context. Chapter 1 looks at theoretical…

Indicators are used in quite different ways in vocational education and training, from control and accountability to performance and quality purposes. A classification model has been proposed in which many indicators can fit. It is based on two important dimensions of indicators: (1) the "message" relating to the information content,…

This report presents the overall quality assurance framework for initial vocational education in Denmark and the Netherlands and 10 case studies on quality assurance initiatives at Dutch and Danish vocational colleges. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the policy context on quality. Chapter 2 views the quality debate from the perspective of the…

Total Quality Management (TQM) establishes business and industry standards and techniques that ensure the quality of products leaving and reaching firms through continuous actions rather than one final inspection. Deming, Juran, and Crosby, who initiated the process, share a common theme of participatory management. Management participation and…

This book explains how to implement a Total Quality Management (TQM) program within an organization focusing in particular on ways to sustain the effort. Part 1 of five offers an overview of the TQM approach and the rationale for adopting it. Topics of discussion include signs of the need for change, what TQM is and what it is not, the basics of…

This report brings together European experience on the interpretation and implementation of ISO 9000 in education and training (ET) environments. Chapter 1 discusses the importance of quality concepts in ET and summarizes key concepts of total quality management (TQM) and its relevance for ET. Chapter 2 introduces the ISO 9000 standards. It…

Outlines the development of a strategy that applies quality management techniques to a training development program based on experiences at Lloyds Bank (United Kingdom). Topics discussed include computer-based training and software development; environmental influences affecting standards development; quality control; assessment against the…

In an internationally competitive training environment, implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in vocational education can provide a comparative advantage in preparing the type of work force required for micro and macro economic reforms. The concept of TQM can be used as a management tool to improve the standards of vocational training.…

A framework is presented for understanding how errors arise in institutional research, and principles are suggested to avert errors in work processes of institutional research offices. Error is defined as a product which fails to meet professional standards, has unacceptable process limitations, or is unacceptable to a client. The following four…

This volume offers a detailed argument for and description of Total Quality Management (TQM) for institutions of higher education. Chapter 1 elaborates on why TQM is good for higher education and includes some warning as to why implementation at colleges and universities may not be easy. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the history of the TQM…

This bulletin provides descriptions of two of the most widely used business and industry quality models--the British Standards Institution system (BS5750) and Total Quality Management (TQM). The focus is on applications of the models in further education colleges. The first section clarifies what the term "quality" means, in general and…