A PAPER PRESENTED BY AWAAH FRED

SECRETARY GENERAL ALL-AFRICA STUDENTS UNION (AASU)

THE ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS IN QUALITY ASSURANCE

ORGANISED BY DAAD/UNESCO15TH – 17TH NOVEMER 2012, DAKAR SENEGAL

ALL AFRICA STUDENTS UNIONFormed : KNUST as the Africa National Students

Organisation in February1972

Membership: Opened to all national student unions in Africa.

Leadership: Based on elections every four years.

Structure: Executive Committee, Secretariat and Support Staff.

Core Mandate: Advocacy for educational reforms & defend rights of students on the continent.

Funding: GoG

WHAT IS QUALITY ASSURANCE?UNESCO

Quality Assurance is the systematic review of educational programmes to ensure that

acceptable standards of education, scholarship and infrastructure are being

maintained. 

AASU(2012)Quality Assurance is an evolving mechanism that ensures the continuous improvement

on educational standards to meet or exceed the expectations of educational

stakeholders.

THE ROLE OF STUDENTS

1) Understand educational policies by getting involved in decision making (Be part of boards)

2) Enjoin ourselves to taking initiatives that underscore the relevance of quality education GETFUND

3) Get committed to a minimal level of cost sharing for improved conditions ( SRC dues for projects)

4) Peer advocates on issues of quality( quality clubs)

5) Recommend to institutions their perspective on improving on education.

THE ROLE OF CORPORATE BODIES/PRIVATE SECTOR/EMPLOYERS

1. Should have close collaborations with institutions to modify course contents

2. Inject capital for the improvement of academic institutions. (Access bank and UPS)

3. Provide financial assistance to students (scholarships)

4. Offer opportunities for internship and industrial attachments

5. Should have periodic interaction with students to share their experiences and expectations from graduates

THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS1. Ensure a good student-teacher ratio2. Improve the generation of internal funds to

maintain and continually enhance educational quality ( Business Development Units)

3. Research to ensure that the course contents are continually improved to meet the demands of the times/industry

4. Apart from local accreditations, accreditation should be sought from other international accreditation bodies to ensure the protection of certificates and work abroad

5. Equip lecturers with the appropriate skills, knowledge and attitude needed to deliver effectively.

THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

1)Provide and improve academic infrastructure

2)Multi-lateral standards should be negotiated to ensure acceptability of certificates from each country.

3) Improve conditions of service of academic staff.

4)Provide financial support to students5)Set up independent educational

commissions to oversee educational policies such that change in governments does not affect educational policies.

THE ROLE OF ACCREDITATION BODIES

1) Standardize qualification for lecturers2) Transparency in accreditation of

institutions devoid of partisan and corrupt influences

3) Standardize grading systems4) Periodic monitoring and evaluation of

accredited institutions to ensure institutions are not falling below standards

5) There should be a student representative on the accreditation boards

THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS1) Aid in the capacity building of all

stakeholders to guarantee quality assurance

2) Create interactive educational policy dialogue platforms to enable stakeholders lay their perspectives on improving quality assurance

3) Support student organizations to champion the advocacy drive of quality assurance in educational institutions.

4) Create inter-governmental platforms to harmonize the quality assurance standards in various countries.

ALL AFRICA STUDENTS UNIONP. O. BOX M274ACCRA-GHANA

00233 302258484/00233 243 101 626

Thank You