Quality Assurance and Effectiveness in Kurdistan Higher Education: The Reform Process
Implementing quality assurance in higher education establishments is the main focus of the reform process currently undertaken by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The reform agenda has involved attempts to improve academic quality and management processes in universities, technical institutions and colleges. The central challenge for the reform process is to produce change in higher education in a region where administration is described as centralized and bureaucratic. To make these changes, there should be a well-designed plans and follow up processes in order to monitor progress and develop responses to obstacles. Lack of skills, resources, political dilemmas, poor motivation, and readiness to face the consequences of change are factors which will determine the success of the reform process.
[1] C. Iannone, "Disquieting lessons from Iraq: a conversation with John
Agresto", Academic Questions, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 37-49, 2006
[2] D. Van Damme, "Trends and models in international quality assurance
and accreditation in higher education in relation to trade in educational
services", OECD/US Forum on Trade in Educational Services,
Washington, USA, 23-24 May 2002, pp. 1-51
[3] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, E. S. Abo-Alrab, and M. A. Al-Kharabisha,
"Guide to quality of academic programs in the colleges of the Arabic
universities members in the Association (Translation)". Jordan: General
Secretariat of the Association of Arab Universities, 2011
(www.aaru.edu.jo/aaru/mjles/jodetbramej.pdf)
[4] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, and S. Jresat, "Guide to quality assurance
and accreditation for the Arabic universities members in the Association
(Translation)". Jordan: General Secretariat of the Association of Arab
Universities, 2008 (www.aaru.edu.jo/aaru/mjles/godewatemad.pdf)
[5] H. De Boer, J. Enders, and L. Leisyte, "Public sector reform in Dutch
higher education: the organizational transformation of the university",
Public Administration, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 27-46, 2007
[6] I. Harb, "Higher education and the future of Iraq", A Special Report, no.
195, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, January 2008
(http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr195.pdf)
[7] J. Agresto, Mugged by Reality. New York: Encounter Books, 2007
[8] J. Kettunen, "Strategy and quality maps in higher education", US-China
Education Review, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 149-156, 2011
[9] K. Mok, "Reflecting globalization effects on local policy: higher
education reform in Taiwan", Educational Policy, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 637-
660, 2000
[10] MHESR-KRG- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-
Kurdistan Regional Government, On Route to Quality: The
Reformation of Higher Education in Kurdistan Region. Iraq, Kurdistan
Region: Naza Printing Press, 2011.
[11] M. Kirst, Governance of Elementary and Secondary Education. Aspen:
Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, Program on Education for a
Changing Society, 1976
[12] M. Sywelem, and J. Witte, "Higher education accreditation in view of
international contemporary attitudes", Contemporary Issues in Education
Research, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 41-54, 2009
[13] N. Flynn, Public Sector Management. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester
Wheatsheaf, 1997
[14] NWCCU- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
(NWCCU), Accreditation Handbook, 2003 edition, Redmond, WA,
USA: P.1, Retrieved January 13, 2009
(http://www.nwccu.org/Pubs%20Forms%20and%20Updates/Publication
s/Accreditation%20Handbook.pdf)
[15] P. Porter, "Implementation issues in federal reform efforts in education:
the United States and Australia", Paper presented at the annual meeting
of the American Educational Research Association, April 7-11, 1980
[16] UNESCO, "Situational analysis of education in Iraq (Documents)",
Paris, April 2003
(unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001308/130838e.pdf)
[17] CNN, 2011
(http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/12/07/damon-iraqirbil-
silk-road.cnn)
[18] The Guardian, 2012
(www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/10/corruption,scandalsdestabilities-
iraq kurdistan?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038)
[1] C. Iannone, "Disquieting lessons from Iraq: a conversation with John
Agresto", Academic Questions, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 37-49, 2006
[2] D. Van Damme, "Trends and models in international quality assurance
and accreditation in higher education in relation to trade in educational
services", OECD/US Forum on Trade in Educational Services,
Washington, USA, 23-24 May 2002, pp. 1-51
[3] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, E. S. Abo-Alrab, and M. A. Al-Kharabisha,
"Guide to quality of academic programs in the colleges of the Arabic
universities members in the Association (Translation)". Jordan: General
Secretariat of the Association of Arab Universities, 2011
(www.aaru.edu.jo/aaru/mjles/jodetbramej.pdf)
[4] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, and S. Jresat, "Guide to quality assurance
and accreditation for the Arabic universities members in the Association
(Translation)". Jordan: General Secretariat of the Association of Arab
Universities, 2008 (www.aaru.edu.jo/aaru/mjles/godewatemad.pdf)
[5] H. De Boer, J. Enders, and L. Leisyte, "Public sector reform in Dutch
higher education: the organizational transformation of the university",
Public Administration, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 27-46, 2007
[6] I. Harb, "Higher education and the future of Iraq", A Special Report, no.
195, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, January 2008
(http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr195.pdf)
[7] J. Agresto, Mugged by Reality. New York: Encounter Books, 2007
[8] J. Kettunen, "Strategy and quality maps in higher education", US-China
Education Review, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 149-156, 2011
[9] K. Mok, "Reflecting globalization effects on local policy: higher
education reform in Taiwan", Educational Policy, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 637-
660, 2000
[10] MHESR-KRG- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-
Kurdistan Regional Government, On Route to Quality: The
Reformation of Higher Education in Kurdistan Region. Iraq, Kurdistan
Region: Naza Printing Press, 2011.
[11] M. Kirst, Governance of Elementary and Secondary Education. Aspen:
Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, Program on Education for a
Changing Society, 1976
[12] M. Sywelem, and J. Witte, "Higher education accreditation in view of
international contemporary attitudes", Contemporary Issues in Education
Research, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 41-54, 2009
[13] N. Flynn, Public Sector Management. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester
Wheatsheaf, 1997
[14] NWCCU- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
(NWCCU), Accreditation Handbook, 2003 edition, Redmond, WA,
USA: P.1, Retrieved January 13, 2009
(http://www.nwccu.org/Pubs%20Forms%20and%20Updates/Publication
s/Accreditation%20Handbook.pdf)
[15] P. Porter, "Implementation issues in federal reform efforts in education:
the United States and Australia", Paper presented at the annual meeting
of the American Educational Research Association, April 7-11, 1980
[16] UNESCO, "Situational analysis of education in Iraq (Documents)",
Paris, April 2003
(unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001308/130838e.pdf)
[17] CNN, 2011
(http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/12/07/damon-iraqirbil-
silk-road.cnn)
[18] The Guardian, 2012
(www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/10/corruption,scandalsdestabilities-
iraq kurdistan?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038)
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:55077", author = "Selar Othman Ali", title = "Quality Assurance and Effectiveness in Kurdistan Higher Education: The Reform Process", abstract = "Implementing quality assurance in higher education establishments is the main focus of the reform process currently undertaken by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The reform agenda has involved attempts to improve academic quality and management processes in universities, technical institutions and colleges. The central challenge for the reform process is to produce change in higher education in a region where administration is described as centralized and bureaucratic. To make these changes, there should be a well-designed plans and follow up processes in order to monitor progress and develop responses to obstacles. Lack of skills, resources, political dilemmas, poor motivation, and readiness to face the consequences of change are factors which will determine the success of the reform process.
", keywords = "Higher Education, Kurdistan-Iraq, Quality
Assurance", volume = "6", number = "6", pages = "1273-4", }
