Internal Quality Assurance for The Undergraduate Degree Programs of Thai University
Keywords:
internal quality assurance, the undergraduate degree programs, Thai UniversitiesAbstract
This study employs Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research (EDFR) technology to explore the future of undergraduate degree programs' quality management systems and internal quality assurance processes. The research involved a two-step approach, starting with expert preparation, followed by EDFR interviews to gather multiple perspectives from seven qualified experts. These experts were part of the education quality assurance management team at the policy level and the internal quality assurance management team, ensuring diverse insights into the subject matter. Content analysis was employed to scrutinise the data gathered from the EDFR interviews. The research framework encompassed a comprehensive analysis of undergraduate degree programs' quality management systems and internal quality assurance processes. The research findings unveiled that the quality management system for undergraduate degree programs revolves around an internal process within the curriculum to ensure and enhance the overall quality. This system comprises four integral components: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement. Additionally, the study examined the issue of internal educational quality assurance at the graduate level. The elements constituting this framework were categorised as follows: (1) Input Factors: Students, academic staff, and curriculum. (2) Processes: This section comprised curriculum management, teaching-learning and student assessment, personnel and learning support. (3) Outputs: Graduates/outputs and graduate quality were highlighted as crucial indicators of the success of the quality assurance system. Furthermore, (4) Curriculum Learning Outcomes: The study also emphasised the significance of curriculum learning outcomes as an integral part of the educational quality assurance system.
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