Quality Assurance in Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter examines whether post-crisis regions can benefit from quality assurance in higher education. To this end, it defines what notions of quality exist and how quality can be improved. Special attention is given to the formalized process of accreditation of study programs. From the perspective of neo-institutionalism, it is argued that quality assurance as a rule-based process requires functioning state structures. For post-crisis regions, it is therefore of crucial importance whether or not crises and traumas have an impact on the existence of the state. It is postulated that without an effective administrative and legal system, accreditation or other forms of legally binding quality assurance are not useful. Rather, low-threshold procedures based on the principle of fitness for/of purpose would be recommended in such cases.