Paper Presented at the Standing Conference for African National and University Libraries

in East, Central and Southern Africa (SCANUL – ECS), 1st and 2nd June 2012 at

Kenyatta University.

What is External Quality AssuranceExternal quality assurance is performed by anorganization or quality assurance agency fromoutside the institution. The organizationassesses the operation of the institution or itsprogrammes in order to determine if it meetsthe agreed upon or predetermined standards(CHE 2008:8; Sanyal & Martin 2007:5).

Purpose of External Quality AssuranceQuality control: Ensures that higher

education provision is in line with minimum quality requirements

Accountability: Reassure external stakeholders of the levels of quality, high standards and international comparability of both public and private providers

Guidance and improvement: Improvement of the existing practices by establishing self-assessment procedures in higher education institutions (Martin & Stella 2007:41; UNESCO 2006:22 – 24)

Methods of External Quality AssuranceQuality Audit

The process of quality assessment by which an external body ensures that the institution of programme quality procedures or that the overall (internal and external) are adequate and actually being carried out

Quality AssessmentThe actual process of external evaluation (reviewing, measuring, judging) of the quality of higher education institutions and programmes.

AccreditationThe process by which an external body evaluates the quality of a higher education institution as a whole or of a specific programme in order to formally recognize it as having met certain pre-determined minimal criteria or standards.

Methods used during accreditationSelf-assessmentsDocument analysisScrutiny of performance indicatorsPeer visitsInspectionsSpecially constituted panelsStakeholder surveys

External quality assurance of university librariesKenya first in Africa to set up an EQA agency

for higher education in 1985Method of EQA is accreditationCompulsory for private universitiesAccreditation for licensing – award of status –

LIA, Charter and Re-inspection certificateCHE uses standards, self-assessment, quality

auditMain reasons for setting up EQA agencies in

Africa has been regulation and not to enhance accountability and improvement (Materu 2007:iv)

Impact Assessment? Complicated due to the varying views on

what specific indicators of high quality are;Given the variation of institutional objectives

and priorities;No agreed performance indicators for

university libraries;This paper does not attempt to assess the

impact of the quality of the university library systems but to analyze how university librarians perceive the effects of accreditation on their institutions

MethodologyOpen and closed ended questions Likert scale format used

respondents asked to strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree

A total of 22 (92%) out of 24 potential respondents completed and returned the questionnaire.

Private universities – 11 chartered, seven with LIA and four registered

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONPurpose and Strength of Accreditation

Purpose of Accreditation Quality assurance 19 (86%) out of 22 Award of Status 18 (82%) out of 22 Public accountability 5(24%) Funding 3(14%)

Strengths of Accreditation Conformity with standards 21 (95%) out of 24 Quality Assurance 13 (59%) Increased funding 6(27%) Public Accountability 5(23%) and Enhanced

reputation of library staff 5(23%) Improvement of library services 4 (18%)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSImprovement of the Accreditation ProcessMore time should be spent in the library

during the inspection visits 19(86%) out of 22

Regular follow-ups 9(41%)Consider changing information

environment 3Avoid conflict of interest by peer

evaluators 2Appreciate efforts of institutions 1

Results and DiscussionsOpinions towards the process of accreditationPositive perceptions

Staff participated in preparing for the visit/inspection (95%) Led to physical development of the library (90%) Recommendations of visiting team usually valid (87%) Participation of peer reviewers stimulates the achievement

of self-determined goals (86%) CHE provided guidance and support after the inspection

(81%) Enhanced the quality of library/information services (78%) Led to improvement in the work environment for staff (72%) Led to professional staff development (68%)

Results and DiscussionsOpinions towards the process of accreditation

Negative perceptionsPreparation for the accreditation visit/inspection is time consuming (86%)

Institutions are not adequately trained prior to the site visit/inspection (64%)

Effects of accreditation on university libraries Promoted the physical development of the

university librariesAssisted university libraries to achieve

self-determined goalsInvolved peer reviewers during site

visit/inspectionEnhanced the quality of

library/information services Improved staff work environmentProfessional development of staff

ConclusionsCHE should create new mechanisms for

EQACHE should promote accountability and

quality improvement CHE should improve the process of site

visit/inspectionCHE should advocate for self-evaluation Libraries should develop internal quality

assurances structures

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