Quality management of higher education is a vital concern today. The purpose of this study was to examine education quality management practices of Ethiopian public universities and to investigate a relationship between three dependent variables (planning for quality education, implementation of plans and performance improvement) and five independent variables (identification of quality education, considering customers’ needs, performance tracking, education quality management strategies and taking actions). Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by means of questionnaires and interviews. Respondents of the questionnaire items were 170 education managers and student union representatives. In addition, ten senior instructors and ten senior students were interviewed. The responses obtained using questionnaires were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means, modes, chi-square tests and Spearman’s correlation. Responses obtained using open ended items on the questionnaires and interview responses were analysed qualitatively using themes of issues most frequently obtained. This study showed that: in most Ethiopian public universities the educational quality planning process is not participatory. There is a gap in using their plans in guiding their day to day activities. Most universities do not regularly collect data on satisfaction levels of their customers. Educational process changes are not tested on small scale before a wide spread application. It also showed that there is a strong positive relationship between performance improvement and the four independent variables namely: considering customers’ needs, performance tracking, teaching methodologies and taking actions in Ethiopian public universities. Consequently, recommendations have been given so as to improve education quality management practices of Ethiopian public universities. This study hopefully contributes a lot for performance improvement of similar higher education system. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Delivering education through open and distance learning (ODL) mode imposes upon ODL institutions a responsibility to provide support services deemed adequate to address students’ expectations and learning needs. Student support services are a vital part of academic success in distance learning environments because of the nature of distance education. Therefore, it is critical to provide student support services whose quality levels are acceptable to those who use them. Quality and its measurements are a contentious issue in higher education and distance education. Efforts to help service quality researchers in distance education understand service quality and its evaluation have come from marketing researchers. Among different approaches of service quality assessment is the SERVQUAL model. This study explored and examined the quality of students’ support services in distance learning environments from students’ perspective, using a modified SERVQUAL model. The objectives of the study were to examine students’ expectations and perceptions of the quality of support services; analyse the gaps between expectations and perceptions; develop and validate a service quality model and a scale to evaluate the quality of distance education students’ support services. A sequential mixed methods design was used to collect and analyse the data. Data were collected in two phases. The first phase involved collecting data qualitatively. The qualitative data were used to develop a context specific service quality model and a scale. The model and the scale were validated in the second (quantitative) phase of the study. The results of the study showed that the students’ expectations exceeded the perceived performance levels of the student support services. The largest gaps related to feedback, study material delivery and spaces for quiet learning. The study also found that distance education student support services can be measured by four service quality dimensions, namely: tangibles, reliability, delivery and assurance. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The universities have among their responsibilities, providing high quality education that benefits students, alumni, organizations and society in general.Alumni monitoring becomes an important source for curriculum feedback, assessing the quality of the training and their consistency with the requirements for professional performance in different companies. However, there are many difficulties in establishing and maintaining a relationship of mutual benefits between educational institutions and their alumni. In this article, a Model for Alumni Monitoring and Supporting is presented. The model was designed from a holistic, ensuring that all involved actors get benefits. The model has been validated and can be adopted and/or adapted by educational institutions to create or strengthen the relationship with their alumni. / Las universidades tienen, entre sus responsabilidades, ofrecer educación de calidad y que esta beneficie a sus estudiantes, graduados (egresados), a las organizaciones y en general, a la sociedad. El seguimiento a sus graduados, se convierte en fuente importante para la retroalimentación curricular, verificación de la calidad de la formación y coherencia con las exigencias para el desempeño profesional. Sin embargo, existe dificultad para establecer y mantener este vínculo para beneficio mutuo de instituciones educativas y graduados. El Modelo de Seguimiento y Acompañamiento a Graduados (SAG) que se presenta en este artículo, fue diseñado desde una perspectiva holística, asegura beneficios para los actores que en él se interrelacionan, ha sido validado y puede ser adoptado y/o adaptado por instituciones educativas para crear o fortalecer la relación con sus graduados. / As universidades têm entre as suas responsabilidades ofereçer uma educação de qualidade, e que a mesma beneficie aos seus estudantes, alumni, organizações e a sociedade em geral. O apoio aos seus alumni torna-se numa importante fonte de feedback do currículo, verificando a qualidade da formação e da sua coerência com os requisitos de desempenho profissional. No entanto, há dificuldade em estabelecer e manter esse relacionamento para o benefício mútuo das instituições de ensino e dos alumni. O Modelo de Monitoramento e Apoio aos Alumni (SAG), apresentado neste artigo, foi projetado a partir duma perspectiva holística, o qual garante os benefícios para os atores que interagem nele. O modelo SAG foi validado e pode ser adoptado e/ou adaptado por instituições de ensino para criar ou fortalecer o relacionamento com os seus alumni.

Quality assurance has been a vexed and troubled journey for private providers in South Africa in a complex and burdensome educational environment. It is well recognised that private providers are significant role-players in the provision of education and training in South Africa and the stated intention is to create a more enabling regulatory framework The focus of this thesis is on the private providers at the post-school level. The quality assurance regime was examined and contextualised to analyse what is required, and to determine how the private provider is impacted by the regulatory requirements for the establishment and operation of a private tuition provider in South Africa. The experience of private providers, CEOs of professional bodies, ETQA managers and ETD practitioners was investigated using a mixed methods research approach. The conclusion is a call for a far more streamlined system with a centralised oversight body, greater stakeholder consultation, less political interference and a deeper appreciation for the contribution that private providers make to the education of learners in South Africa. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Quality assurance has been a vexed and troubled journey for private providers in South Africa in a complex and burdensome educational environment. It is well recognised that private providers are significant role-players in the provision of education and training in South Africa and the stated intention is to create a more enabling regulatory framework The focus of this thesis is on the private providers at the post-school level. The quality assurance regime was examined and contextualised to analyse what is required, and to determine how the private provider is impacted by the regulatory requirements for the establishment and operation of a private tuition provider in South Africa. The experience of private providers, CEOs of professional bodies, ETQA managers and ETD practitioners was investigated using a mixed methods research approach. The conclusion is a call for a far more streamlined system with a centralised oversight body, greater stakeholder consultation, less political interference and a deeper appreciation for the contribution that private providers make to the education of learners in South Africa. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)