1. e-mail: f.wokabi@pu.ac.ke
Beyond Compliance and Certification to Acculturation of Quality in Higher Educational Institutions: Prospects and Challenges
Presenter:
Dr. Francis Wokabi,
Pwani University.

2. The Problem
Existence of diverse quality assurance structures, processes and mechanisms that do not necessarily indicate acculturation of quality in HEIs

3. Key Concepts…1
Compliance- compliance, submission- not necessarily conviction, commitment, transformation
Certification- legal acknowledgment and permit to practice- not necessarily tested and trusted competence, sustained reputation for excellence

4. Concepts…2
Acculturation- integration of material and non-material elements that make one who she is- a total and authentic way of life-language, beliefs, skills, attitudes, values, relationships, infrastructure etc- consistency in thought, word, action

5. Diversity of standards for HEI in Kenya
constitution
International
Initiatives
CUE
standards
Laws
Government policies
Professional
Standards
ISO
standards
Internal policies
And procedures

6. Some Evidence for lack of acculturation…1
Weak self-evaluation, correction and improvement
Diverse QA mechanisms regarded as competing rather than complementary
Lack of ownership by a critical mass of members of organisations

7. Evidence…2 Capacity constraints
Dichotomy between individual and organisational purposes and goals
Insensitivity to non-conformities-the so what? attitude

8. Evidence…3
Nostalgia for olden days fear of future negative possibilities
Paralysis of analysis-little implementation and results
Complaints from employers about HE graduates and little self employment of graduates

9. Some Prospects Problems and risks as opportunities Globalisation
Demand for quality education
Liberalization of education
Enlightened clients and demand for transparency and accountability
Existence of QA agencies and mechanisms

10. Challenges- Discerned from ISO audit experiences…1
Mismatch between individual and organisational purposes and goals
Aversion to criticism
Lack of autonomy and initiative
QA regarded as events not processes

11. Challenges…2 Oral rather than writing tradition-weak documentation
Inattentiveness to data and data driven decision making
Hostile attitude to QA
Defensiveness- justifying non compliance

12. Challenges…. 3
Focus on correction rather than corrective action- reactive v/s proactive approach- partial v/s wholistic
Compliance v/s excellence and continual improvement- minimum v/s extra mile

13. Needed for Acculturation…1
habit of self-reflection and improvement
clarity of and harmony between individual as well as institutional purposes
appreciation of the place of processes and systems

14. Needed…2 willingness to take responsibility
willingness to collaborate and accommodate diverse perspectives and
readiness to adapt imaginatively to new situations

15. Conclusion
Need to identify and use innovative ways of acculturating quality in HEIs
Rethink how planning; allocation of resources; recruitment, rewarding and development of employees ; interaction with stakeholders; and management of change are done

16. Recommendations
Continued research and discussion on quality assurance in HEIs
Research on the extent to which individuals and their institutions have acculturated/are acculturating quality

17. The End
Thank you for listening to me. Welcome to Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya