STRENGTHENING REGIONAL

COOPERATION IN QUALITY ASSURANCE

IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA
THE ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS IN QUALITY ASSURANCE
ORGSNISED BY DAAD/UNESCO
15TH 17TH NOVEMER 2012, DAKAR SENEGAL

A PAPER PRESENTED BY AWAAH FRED

SECRETARY GENERAL
ALL-AFRICA STUDENTS UNION (AASU)

WHAT IS QUALITY ASSURANCE?

UNESCO

Quality Assurance is the systematic review

of educational programmes to ensure that
acceptable standards of education,
scholarship and infrastructure are being
maintained.

AASU(2012)

Quality Assurance is an evolving mechanism

that ensures the continual improvement of
educational standards to satisfy or exceed
the expectations of educational
stakeholders.

THE ROLE OF STUDENTS

1) Understand academic policies in order to
contribute to its improvement
2) Getting involved in decision making in
the institutions
3) Make sound recommendations to
stakeholders as to how to improve on
education quality.
4) Enjoin themselves to taking initiatives
that underscore the relevance of quality
education
5) Create high awareness amongst students
as to what constitutes quality education

THE ROLE OF CORPORATE BODIES/

PRIVATE SECTOR/EMPLOYERS
1) Should have close collaborations with
institutions to modify course contents
2) Inject capital for the improvement of
academic institutions.
3) Provide financial assistance to students
4) Offer opportunities for internship and
industrial attachments
5) Should have periodic interaction with
students to share their experiences and
expectations from graduates

THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

1) Ensure a good student-teacher ratio
2) Improve the generation of internal funds
to maintain and continually enhance
educational quality
3) Adhere in the implementation of
governmental directives and policies
4) Research to ensure that the course
contents are continually improved to
meet the demands of the times/industry
5) Ensure the local condition of the
geographical area are embedded in the
course content

THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Contd
6) Apart from local accreditations,
accreditation should be sought from other
international accreditation bodies to ensure
the protection of certificates and work abroad
7) Equip lecturers with the appropriate skills,
knowledge and attitude needed to deliver
effectively.

THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

1)Provide and improve academic
infrastructure
2)Multi-lateral standards should be
negotiated to ensure acceptability of
certificates from each country.
3)Improve conditions of service of academic
staff.
4)Provide financial support to students
5)Set up independent educational
commissions to oversee educational
policies such that change in governments
does not affect educational policies.

THE ROLE OF ACCREDITATION BODIES

1) Standardize qualification for lecturers

2) Transparency in accreditation of
institutions devoid of partisan and
corrupt influences
3) Standardize grading systems
4) Periodic monitoring and evaluation of
accredited institutions to ensure
institutions are not falling below
standards
5) There should be a student
representative on the accreditation
boards

THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

1) Aid in the capacity building of all
stakeholders to guarantee quality
assurance
2) Create interactive educational policy
dialogue platforms to enable
stakeholders lay their perspectives on
improving quality assurance
3) Support student organizations to
champion the advocacy drive of quality
assurance in educational institutions.
4) Create inter-governmental platforms to
harmonize the quality assurance
standards in various countries.

Thank You