Factors Affecting Quality Assurance in Ghanaian Tertiary Education Institutions: A Case Study of the University for Development Studies

Richard Nalarb Yakubu

doi:10.53103/cjess.v6i4.541

Authors

Richard Nalarb Yakubu University for Development Studies, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53103/cjess.v6i4.541

Keywords:

Quality Assurance, Tertiary Education, Accreditation, Teaching

Abstract

The article sheds light on the factors that affect quality assurance in the Ghanaian setting in the case of the University for Development Studies (UDS). The data for the study were obtained from participant observation as well as secondary sources. The analysis showed that while UDS made significant gains in establishing internal mechanisms for quality assurance, many challenges persist that affect effective implementation. These challenges, among others, include skills mismatches, misuse of university resources by staff and students, limited innovation in teaching, underutilization of brilliant students, favouritism, inadequate staff cooperation, external interferences, high teaching workloads, programmes accreditation delays, delays in upload of examination results, and unstable internet connectivity. These challenges explicitly affect many facets of the university's operations, including academic quality. To address these challenges, the article recommends the following: hiring of qualified staff; alignment of staff skills with job roles; enforcement of responsible use of university resources; promotion of innovative teaching strategies; elimination of favouritism; and shared responsibility of assuring quality across all departments and units of the University.

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