Developing a framework to enhance the operation of quality assurance in Saudi Arabia’s higher education: educational management and e-management perspectives

Alholiby, Mossab Saud (2018) Developing a framework to enhance the operation of quality assurance in Saudi Arabia’s higher education: educational management and e-management perspectives. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a framework to enhance the operation of quality assurance in Saudi Arabia’s higher education institutions, through exploring stakeholders' perspectives, considering educational management and the potential of e-management.

In looking to generate an insight into the reality of QA practice towards developing a heuristic enhancement framework, a case study methodology consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods was employed. In the initial stage, a scoping study was employed to explore the main issues surrounding the operation of QA by conducting 10 interviews with elite stockholders. For the main study, interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire were employed to gather data simultaneously. There were 23 participants in interviews, 9 in focus groups and 301 responders to a questionnaire. Qualitative data were analysed based on thematic analysis, descriptive statistics were applied to the quantitative data making use of the SPSS statistical package. Data were analysed separately and then integrated and compared in the process of interpretation of the overall results.

This case study found that participants from all levels of the institution agreed that QA requirements are a primary part of academic commitments. The results showed that stakeholders are willing to engage in the QA operations at an individual level. However, not all faculty members accepted the changes resulting from a systematic QA approach. There are those who support and engage effectively and those who reject the idea because of uncertainty or lack of a clear understanding of QA. This study has identified that the largest group of stakeholders actively participating in QA operations is made up of QA staff, followed by administrative and faculty staff. In addition, the study found that stakeholders with experience in QA participate significantly more than others. The study noticed a disparity between the engagement of stakeholders at older long established colleges and new ones. Several factors driving this trend emerged, such as the work environment, availability of support from senior management, availability of human and financial support, and the extent of understanding of QAP. The study discovered a wide range of evidence indicating significant difficulties in relation to the participation of stakeholders in the QA operations, due to a number of common challenges; such as management issues, individual attitudes, staff development, incentives and external factors.
The study indicated that the relationship between QA operation and e-management in the university is limited or unclear. In terms of the positive perception of participants toward the potential of e-management in the operation of QA, the results indicated that e-management could provide essential solutions to a number of challenges confronting stakeholders in QA operations. Five potential areas in which e-management could help in QA operations were outlined: administration, operation, information management, control and evaluation and support. However, the study revealed several potential challenges that could confront higher education institutions in taking full advantage of e-management in the operation of QA, namely, management aspects, stakeholders, and technical issues.

The study has proposed a heuristic framework to enhance the operation of QA and to tackle the issues that arose over the course of the research. The framework’s development is grounded in the literature across three disciplines (Change, QA and e-management), and in the perspectives of stakeholders involved in the actual operation of QA. This framework considers seven main areas: leadership, stakeholders, QAP, staff development, rewards and incentives, e-management and external factors. The study proposes a framework with the intention of providing guidance and insight for higher education policy and decision makers, academic leaders in Saudi HEIs, and for HEIs throughout the region.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: higher education, Education, Saudi Arabia, Saudi higher education, Change higher education, change organisations, models of change, higher education development, higher education quality, quality assurance, quality assurance in higher education, Saudi higher education quality assurance, quality assurance of gulf stats higher education, e-management, educational management, educational administration, electronic management, electronic management and quality assurance, quality assurance models, Islamic perspective of quality, higher education staff perspectives of quality assurance, case study methodology, mixed methods, quantitative and qualitative, quality assurance framework, potential of e-management in quality assurance, quality assurance application, quality assurance process, quality assurance procedures, quality assurance difficulties, quality assurance challenges.
• Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education; L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Supervisor's Name: Doherty, Dr. Robert and Lally, Prof. Victor
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: DR Mossab Alholiby
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-30634
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 12 Jun 2018 12:12
• Last Modified: 24 Mar 2023 14:14
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/30634