{"title":"Quality Assurance and Effectiveness in Kurdistan Higher Education: The Reform Process","authors":"Selar Othman Ali","volume":66,"journal":"International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences","pagesStart":1308,"pagesEnd":1312,"ISSN":"1307-6892","URL":"https:\/\/publications.waset.org\/pdf\/5986","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.<\/p>\r\n","references":"[1] C. Iannone, \"Disquieting lessons from Iraq: a conversation with John\r\nAgresto\", Academic Questions, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 37-49, 2006\r\n[2] D. Van Damme, \"Trends and models in international quality assurance\r\nand accreditation in higher education in relation to trade in educational\r\nservices\", OECD\/US Forum on Trade in Educational Services,\r\nWashington, USA, 23-24 May 2002, pp. 1-51\r\n[3] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, E. S. Abo-Alrab, and M. A. Al-Kharabisha,\r\n\"Guide to quality of academic programs in the colleges of the Arabic\r\nuniversities members in the Association (Translation)\". Jordan: General\r\nSecretariat of the Association of Arab Universities, 2011\r\n(www.aaru.edu.jo\/aaru\/mjles\/jodetbramej.pdf)\r\n[4] F. A. Al-Haj, S. Sh. Majeed, and S. Jresat, \"Guide to quality assurance\r\nand accreditation for the Arabic universities members in the Association\r\n(Translation)\". Jordan: General Secretariat of the Association of Arab\r\nUniversities, 2008 (www.aaru.edu.jo\/aaru\/mjles\/godewatemad.pdf)\r\n[5] H. De Boer, J. Enders, and L. Leisyte, \"Public sector reform in Dutch\r\nhigher education: the organizational transformation of the university\",\r\nPublic Administration, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 27-46, 2007\r\n[6] I. Harb, \"Higher education and the future of Iraq\", A Special Report, no.\r\n195, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, January 2008\r\n(http:\/\/www.usip.org\/files\/resources\/sr195.pdf)\r\n[7] J. Agresto, Mugged by Reality. New York: Encounter Books, 2007\r\n[8] J. Kettunen, \"Strategy and quality maps in higher education\", US-China\r\nEducation Review, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 149-156, 2011\r\n[9] K. Mok, \"Reflecting globalization effects on local policy: higher\r\neducation reform in Taiwan\", Educational Policy, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 637-\r\n660, 2000\r\n[10] MHESR-KRG- Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research-\r\nKurdistan Regional Government, On Route to Quality: The\r\nReformation of Higher Education in Kurdistan Region. Iraq, Kurdistan\r\nRegion: Naza Printing Press, 2011.\r\n[11] M. Kirst, Governance of Elementary and Secondary Education. Aspen:\r\nAspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, Program on Education for a\r\nChanging Society, 1976\r\n[12] M. Sywelem, and J. Witte, \"Higher education accreditation in view of\r\ninternational contemporary attitudes\", Contemporary Issues in Education\r\nResearch, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 41-54, 2009\r\n[13] N. Flynn, Public Sector Management. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester\r\nWheatsheaf, 1997\r\n[14] NWCCU- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities\r\n(NWCCU), Accreditation Handbook, 2003 edition, Redmond, WA,\r\nUSA: P.1, Retrieved January 13, 2009\r\n(http:\/\/www.nwccu.org\/Pubs%20Forms%20and%20Updates\/Publication\r\ns\/Accreditation%20Handbook.pdf)\r\n[15] P. Porter, \"Implementation issues in federal reform efforts in education:\r\nthe United States and Australia\", Paper presented at the annual meeting\r\nof the American Educational Research Association, April 7-11, 1980\r\n[16] UNESCO, \"Situational analysis of education in Iraq (Documents)\",\r\nParis, April 2003\r\n(unesdoc.unesco.org\/images\/0013\/001308\/130838e.pdf)\r\n[17] CNN, 2011\r\n(http:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/video\/#\/video\/world\/2011\/12\/07\/damon-iraqirbil-\r\nsilk-road.cnn)\r\n[18] The Guardian, 2012\r\n(www.guardian.co.uk\/commentisfree\/2012\/may\/10\/corruption,scandalsdestabilities-\r\niraq kurdistan?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038)","publisher":"World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology","index":"Open Science Index 66, 2012"}