Abstract:
The focus of this study is to explore the institutional pressures and their influence on the use
of quality assurance (QA) practices in the higher education institutions (HEIs) of a developing
country. The findings show that the use of QA practices was the result of three institutional
pressures, i.e, coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures. The findings reveal the gradual
changes in the nature and intensity of institutional pressure. The changes in institutions QA
practices arose due to coercive pressures, including the preferences of stakeholders and regulatory
bodies including the University Grants Commission (UGC), Bangladesh Accreditation Council
(BAC) aimed at improving the academic standards including academic content and academic
programs, curriculum review, research, and establishment of formal QA framework. While
mimetic pressures were attributed to the high competition and the resultant uncertainty within
the HEIs, the normative pressures emerged due to the influence of top management support
and training. Moreover, results reveal the effects of QA practices on the effectiveness of the
cases in terms of increased satisfaction of stakeholders, public image, employability, improved
internal and external processes, and stakeholders’ confidence. The study contributes to the
quality management literature and developing country literature by providing knowledge about
institutional pressures and their subsequent impact on QA practices in HEIs within a developing
country.
Description:
Working Paper is a routine publication of EWUCRT. This is a preliminary research report
published after its review by at least two experts in the field. Thereafter, it is circulated to a
wider audience of readers including students, faculty and specialists in the field for comments.
EWUCRT earnestly requests the readers of the report to share their comments with us
electronically using e-mail id: ewucrt@ewubd.edu.
