Skip to main content

Quality Assessment and University Change in China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 633 Accesses

Abstract

The present book uses the Quality Assessment of Undergraduate Education (QAUE) as an example to reveal the impact of quality assurance system on institutional transformation in China. This chapter presents an analysis of the QAUE’s outcomes and discusses the reasons why it can or cannot cause genuine change in the evaluated institutions. Both the external and internal forces for change are discussed. Drawing on the empirical findings from the QAUE, a model is proposed to describe how external quality assessment causes university change. The ideal conditions in which quality assessment can generate university change are proposed; meanwhile, the limitations of quality assessment, as an external force, to cause university change, are indicated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Argyris, C. (1999). On organisational learning (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bovens, M. (2007). Analysing and assessing accountability: A conceptual framework. European Law Journal, 13(4), 447–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, J., & Shah, T. (2000). Managing quality in higher education: An international perspective on institutional assessment and change. Buckingham: OECD, SRHE and Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danø, T., & Stensaker, B. (2007). Still balancing improvement and accountability? Developments in external quality assurance in the Nordic countries 1996–2006. Quality in Higher Education, 13(1), 81–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ewell, P. T. (2002). A delicate balance: The role of evaluation in management. Quality in Higher Education, 8(2), 159–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, L., & Newton, J. (2007). Transforming quality evaluation: Moving on. In D. F. Westerheijden, B. Stensaker, & M. J. Rosa (Eds.), Quality assurance in higher education: Trends in regulation, translation and transformation. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Middlehurst, R., & Woodhouse, D. (1995). Coherent systems for external quality assurance. Quality in Higher Education, 1(3), 257–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. (1995). On the unintended consequences of publishing performance indicators in the public sector. International Journal of Public Administration, 18(2/3), 277–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thune, C. (1996). The alliance of accountability and improvement: The Danish experience. Quality in Higher Education, 2(1), 21–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trow, M. (1996). Trust, markets and accountability in higher education: A comparative perspective. Higher Education Policy, 9(4), 309–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Vught, F. A., & Westerheijden, D. F. (1994). Towards a general model of quality assessment in higher education. Higher Education, 28(3), 355–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerheijden, D. F. (1990). Peers, performance, and power: Quality assessment in the Netherlands. In L. C. J. Goedegebuure, P. A. M. Maassen, & D. F. Westerheijden (Eds.), Peer review and performance indicators: Quality assessment in British and Dutch higher education. Lemma: Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westerheijden, D. F., Stensaker, B., & Rosa, M. J. (2007). Is there a logic in the development of quality assurance schemes? From comparative history to theory. Paper presented at INQAAHE Conference, 2–5 April, 2007, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuiyun Liu .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Liu, S. (2016). Quality Assessment and University Change in China. In: Quality Assurance and Institutional Transformation. Higher Education in Asia: Quality, Excellence and Governance. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0789-7_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0789-7_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0787-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0789-7

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics