Exploring Implementation Challenges in Sustaining Quality Assurance: A Qualitative Study in Universities of District Lahore

Abstract

This paper explores the issues and approaches to maintaining Quality Assurance (QA) in Lahore, Pakistan, in both public and privately run universities. The study seeks to learn the barriers to implementation and how a leader can help in the creation of long-term quality. QA systems are important in the global arena of educational excellence. Nevertheless, in Pakistan, there is a big difference between the formal policies and the actual practice in many institutions that do not facilitate the real institutional enhancement. It was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with five main stakeholders (academic leaders and a QA expert) with an analysis of data through thematic analysis. The results show that there is an existent gap that is critical between QA as required compliance activity and the promise of spurring real institutional change. The major obstacles are resistance by the faculty based on work load and competency challenges, and lack of consistency in leadership. Another disconnect was identified between policy and results especially in student employability and feedback reliability. To attain sustainability in QA, it is important to have a cultural change that is not just by compliance. Strategic recommendations involve development of strategic leadership capability, empowerment of faculty members with specific support, and inclusion of transformative technologies towards quality over the long term.