Promoting internal quality assurance in the universities of Pakistan: Experiences of quality enhancement cell
Document Type
Book Chapter
ISBN
9798369356104
Editor
Miltiadis Demetrios Lytras and Andreea Claudia Șerban
Publication (Name of Journal)
Academic Accreditation and Evaluation in Higher Education: Practices, Experiences, and Quality Assurance
Department
Institute for Educational Development, Karachi
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5608-1.ch006
Publisher
IGI Global Scientific Publishing
City
Hershey
Abstract
This chapter explores the need, role, and challenges of promoting internal quality assurance (IQA) through institutional quality units, specifically Quality Enhancement Cells (QECs), in Pakistani universities. Using an exploratory case study design, data were collected from 17 participants through interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. The findings highlight the importance of IQA for the effective implementation of external quality assurance (QA). The QECs were found to contribute to IQA by raising awareness among faculty, staff, and students regarding quality aspects of their work. However, the QECs' role appears to be primarily procedural, with limited impact observed on the enhancement of teaching and learning quality. This is attributed to challenges such as the QECs lack of autonomy, staff shortages, limited stakeholder engagement and ineffective technological integration. This study adds to the existing literature by providing insights into Pakistan's progress towards institutionalising IQA and has multifarious implications.
Recommended Citation
Ahmad, S. & Rizvi, M. (2025). Promoting Internal Quality Assurance in the Universities of Pakistan: Experiences of Quality Enhancement Cell. In M. Lytras & A. Șerban (Eds.), Academic Accreditation and Evaluation in Higher Education: Practices, Experiences, and Quality Assurance (pp. 137-162). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-5608-1.ch006
