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V. Foreign Higher Education and Education Systems, International Relations, Bilateral Relations
B. Essays, Commentaries, Statements
Author ROSA, Maria Joao (TEIXEIRA, Pedro N.)
Title Policy reform, Trojan Horses, and imaginary friends : the role of external stakeholders in internal quality assurance systems / Maria Joao Rosa and Pedro Teixera
Publication year 2014
Source/Footnote In: Higher education policy. - 27 (2014) 2, S. 219 - 237
Inventory number 36547
Keywords Qualitätssicherung ; Ausland : Portugal : Hochschulwesen allgemein
Abstract The governance of higher education has been changing across Europe, most notably in response to the reform agenda that has been pervading many higher education systems. This wave of reforms has given enhanced visibility to external stakeholders, which has been often received with contrasting views. Some regarded it as a factor that would undermine institutions? mission, while others viewed it as a rhetorical change, which would hardly have an impact on institutional life. In this paper, we analyse the introduction of external stakeholders in governance and quality assessment processes by looking at the Portuguese experience, and more specifically at their contribution to the implementation of internal quality assurance systems. We use empirical data collected from four higher education institutions under the framework of the IBAR project, subsumed in the form of barriers to and good practices for the implementation of policies and procedures for quality assurance. The results suggest that although the presence of external stakeholders has become more visible, it is yet to be fully reflected in the way institutions are governed or the way in which they manage their internal quality assurance processes and mechanisms. (HRK / Abstract übernommen)