Discusses reasons for the self-publishing trend in Canada. Topics addressed include changes in the publishing industry, desktop publishing, quality control, printing, publicity, reviews, marketing, and the future of self-publishing. Two sidebars discuss vanity presses and self-publishing and libraries. (32 references) (LRW)

The concept of quality in higher education is discussed, including ways of thinking about quality, its relevance to higher education, interrelationships, and philosophical/political bases. The relative nature of quality is examined, and five differing conceptualizations are identified: quality as exception, perfection, fitness for purpose, value…

A survey of 923 employee involvement programs (57%) yielded 10 themes: range of problem content, team staffing, team membership status, team resources, training practices, information access, financial rewards, performance management systems, goal-setting structures, and roles of job supervisors. (JOW)

The Japanese concept of Kaizen (continuous improvement) may be applied to higher education institutions. Focus is on improvement of the products produced, the process by which they are delivered, and the people involved in the products and the process. (SK)

Five papers on outcomes assessment and management in health care services are presented. The papers illustrate the different stages of outcomes assessment, including identification and selection of indicators, monitoring and pooling of data, description of variations and identification of problems, analysis of variations, and feedback and results.…

Educational research should closely reflect the relatively turbulent world of schools and the micropolitical processes therein. Common research themes in England include response to change, establishment of new working relationships and new roles for local education agencies, marketing influences, curriculum management reforms, and quality control…

An effort to enhance quality and efficiency at the University of Florida was designed to produce quick results without involving many employees and focused on the accounts payable department. Flowcharting identified inefficiencies and pinpointed opportunities for improvement in labor-intensive processes, mailings, check registers, reports,…

This paper provides an analysis of approaches to quality assurance and of the management of quality in general management literature and considers its application to public education systems. Key components of a fully integrated approach to quality assurance and quality management for school systems are listed. (SLD)

Describes an exercise to help advanced English-as-a-Second-Language students learn to edit their writing and stick to word limits. The paper explains how to set the word-limit parameters (limiting writing to 100 words), encourage self-editing, define the criteria of the assignment at the outset, and build a layering process. (SM)

Recent changes in Australian higher education have produced increased demands for accountability. Much of the current policy framework for higher education will survive, and educational-quality issues must be reassessed in this context. Suggested models for quality assessment include development of statements of purpose for individual…

In recent decades, governments and universities in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries have relied on six major mechanisms to safeguard quality in university research. More recently, many countries have added new quality-assurance mechanisms, particularly reviews of disciplines and academic audits. Two recent…

Discussion of abstracting systems focuses on the paradigm concept and identifies and explains four paradigms: communicational, or information theory; physical, including information retrieval; cognitive, including information processing and artificial intelligence; and systemic, including quality management. Emphasizes multidimensionality and…

Cross-disciplinary teams formed by 29 engineering and 45 business/statistics/human ecology students conducted quality improvement projects. Different levels of commitment and interest were apparent; most had difficulty scheduling meetings with team members, clients, and instructors. Nearly all spoke highly of the learning experience. (SK)

Describes how a roof maintenance program will ensure that schools enjoy optimum protection for occupants and property. Discusses how to set up a plan, which includes annual inspections; inventory and documentation, such as recording warranty numbers; and implementing maintenance/repair plans. Offers suggestions for finding a roof consultant. (RJM)

Argues that the approach taken by the British Quality Assurance Agency and the manner in which in interfaces with institutions of higher education may change the prevailing institutional culture. Suggests that the direction of such changes may not be welcomed by the institutions, nor supportive of other government higher education goals.…