Quality Assurance & Accreditation of Teacher Education in Pakistan: Scope for Internationalization

Abstract

This semi-structured qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of the faculty of education departments in various universities about the quality assurance and accreditation process and their willingness to initiate this process in their respective departments. A mixed item questionnaire comprising close and open ended questions was used to collect data from 152 faculty members teaching in the education departments of 16 universities of Pakistan. The faculty members serving at various positions were purposively selected for the study. Triangulation was achieved through content analysis of the survey, document analysis of NACTE manuals and HEC directives. Finally, thematic analysis was completed to arrive at conclusions. The study concluded that the faculty of education departments lacks awareness about the quality assurance and accreditation process. Moreover, findings also suggest that universities are not prepared in many aspects for the achievement of national accreditation. However, in spite of their unwillingness to initiate efforts for internationalization, the faculty demonstrated a keen interest in learning about the accreditation process itself. It is recommended that National Accreditation Council for Teacher Education must set new targets to meet the goals of the accreditation of teacher education in Pakistan.