Impact of Quality Assurance on Academic Performance

Abstract

 Eight years have now passed since the first introduction of the culture and theme of quality in the sector of higher education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2010. At Ishik University, a private institution established in 2008 and granted ISO 9001:2008, and as part of its strategic planning to enhance the quality of higher education in the Region, new commitments and requirements have been imposed to enhance teaching, learning and research quality and productivity. Throughout these years a few changes have incurred and more processes have been utilized, much of which have not been covered and left unnoticed. Thus, this study aims at identifying the role of quality assurance in improving the academic performance at the University under study. The areas focused on range from teaching and learning to research quality and productivity and ranking. In addition, certain challenges and obstructions encountered are highlighted and strategies to perfect the process are recommended. The paper will outline the level of achievements made, specify the challenges, and provide necessary recommendations. The results demonstrate that the application of the quality assurance process has resulted in a fundamental change and improvement in the running process of teaching, learning and researching at the University, escalating its ranking as a result. The study employs a qualitative content analysis and the results are supported by a survey questionnaire and interviews conducted with the teaching staff.