A Narrative Exploration of Quality in Higher Education

Abstract

The pursuit of quality in higher education is a complex challenge driven by diverse stakeholder perspectives, such as staff, students, and employers. This study investigates quality in higher education through a narrative review of recent literature. The review explores the perceptions and implementations of quality initiatives across various contexts. The methodology includes a narrative review of journal articles published between 2014 and 2024, retrieved from databases. Key findings reveal a significant disconnect between stakeholders' definitions of quality, challenges balancing accountability with genuine improvement, and cultural and contextual barriers in applying Western quality models globally. The study underscores the necessity for a strategic approach that integrates quality processes to foster a culture of continuous improvement and academic excellence. It also reveals the emerging concept of quality work, which focuses on academic staff's practical, everyday efforts in enhancing educational quality and improving student achievement. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on quality in higher education by identifying gaps in quality-related practices and proposing future research directions, including the role of cultural contexts and integrating quality enhancement processes for holistic institutional improvement and academic success.