Triple Impact of Internal Quality Assurance Mechanism: A Comparative Assessment of Learner Evaluation, Research Performance, and Institutional Efficiency in Ghanaian Universities

Author's Information:

Moses Paafio Kwao

Family Health University, Ghana

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9318-6527 

Anne Buerkie Puplampu

Ghana Education Service, Ghana

Lineo Lynnette Toolo

Chair of Department of Educational Leadership and Management, Collegeof Education University of South Africa (Unisa)

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6954-2893 

Vol 03 No 06 (2026):Volume 03 Issue 06 June 2026

Page No.: 521-530

Abstract:

This study investigates the influence of Internal Quality Assurance Mechanisms (IQAM) on learners’ evaluation, research performance, and institutional efficiency in Ghanaian universities. Adopting a quantitative research approach, purposive and systematic random sampling techniques were used to select lecturers from four public and two private universities. Data were collected through structured questionnaires rated on a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics revealed that IQAM, learners’ evaluation, research performance, and institutional efficiency were functioning effectively, with mean scores ranging between 3.468 and 4.129. Further analysis indicated that IQAM significantly predicted learners’ evaluation (F=90.68, p<0.01), research performance (F=141, p<0.01), and institutional efficiency (F=80.451, p<0.01), explaining 39.1%, 50.1%, and 36.3% of the variance, respectively. These findings demonstrate the central role of IQAM in promoting quality assessment practices, improved research output, and enhanced institutional operations. The study offers practical implications for policymakers and university administrators to strengthen IQA systems for sustainable academic and operational excellence in higher education.

KeyWords:

academic standards, evaluation, institutional performance, quality assurance, governance

References:

  1. Acquah, A. (2021). HigherEducation Finance BetweenGhana and the United States.Current Issues in Comparative Education 23(1), 90-108. 10.52214/cice.v23i1.8143
  2. Agir, N., Effendi,M., Matore, E. M., Faamanatu-Eteuati, N., & Marquez,N. (2023). Outcome- based assessment in the evaluation of education programs through a systematic literature review. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 12(2), 2662-2677. 10.6007/IJARPED/v12-i2/18095
  3. Ahasu, E. K., Kwao,M. P., Anim, C. L., & Zang, P. L (2024).Role of Community Resources in Education Planningand Delivery in Ghana. Acta Educationis Generalis.14(1)62-76. https://doi.org/10.2478/atd-2024-0004
  4. Alam, G. M. (2020). Quality assurance for private universities in Bangladesh: a quest for specialised institutional  governance,  management  and  regulatory mechanisms. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 22(1), 1-15. 10.1108/IJCED-01-2019-0006
  5. Alvarez-Sández, D., Velázquez-Victorica, K., Mungaray-Moctezuma, A., & López-Guerrero, A. (2023). Administrative processes efficiency measurement in higher education institutions:A       scoping  review. Education Sciences13(9), 855.  https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090855
  6. Alzafari, K., & Ursin, J. (2019). Implementation of quality assurance standards in European higher education: does context matter?. Quality in Higher Education25(1), 58-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2019.1578069
  7. Anyidoho, E.D. (2021). Exploring internal quality assurance management practices: Experiences of some quality assurance actors at the University of Ghana. Ghana Journal of Higher Education Management Vol. 9, pp 1-13 Print ISSN: 0855-6156
  8. Arthur, A. G. (2022). Empirical Assessment of Quality Assurance Practices in Ghana Higher Education of Learning: A Focus on Private Universities. International Journal of Public Administration and Management Research, 7(4):1-15. https://doi.org/10.36758/ijpamr/v7n4.2022/01
  9. Arthur, G. A., & Kuranchie, A. (2022). Quality Assurance in Private Higher Education Institutions in Ghana: Practices and Challenges. Social Education Research, 342-353. 10.37256/ser.3220221604
  10. Asim, S., Chase,R., Dar, A. & Schmillen, A. (2017). Improving Learning Outcomesin South Asia: Findings from a Decade of Impact Evaluations. Oxford University Press/World Bank. RePEc:oup:wbrobs:v:32:y:2017:i:1:p:75-106.
  11. Aweso D.M. (2023). Internal Quality Assurance Policies and Practices in Colleges of Education in Ghana: Resource Dependency Theory Perspective. British Journal of Education, 11 (5): 39-54. 10.37745/bje.2013/vol11n53954
  12. Aydın, O. T. (2017). Research performance of higher education institutions: A review on the measurements and affecting factors of research performance. Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi, (2), 312-320. 10.5961/jhes.2017.210
  13. Benavides, L. M. C., Tamayo Arias, J. A., Arango Serna, M. D., Branch Bedoya, J. W., & Burgos, D. (2020). Digitaltransformation in highereducation institutions: A systematic literature review. Sensors, 20(11), 3291. 10.3390/s20113291
  14. Boud, D. (2020). Challenges in reforming higher education assessment: a perspective from afar. Revista Electrónica de Investigación y Evaluación Educativa, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.26.1.17088
  15. Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) 2022. Ensures quality assurances. Retrieved from https://www.chea.org/accreditation-ensures-quality-assurance. Accessed: June, 9, 2025.
  16. De-Graft, J. D. 2019. Assessing Quality Assurance Practices in Institutions of Higher Learnings. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 18(12): 30-45. 10.26803/ijlter.18.12.3
  17. Duan, S. X. (2019). Measuring university efficiency: An application of data envelopment analysis and strategic group analysis to Australian universities. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 26(4), 1161–1173. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-10-2017-0274
  18. Dudin, M. N., Smirnova, O. O., Vysotskaya, N. V., Frolova, E. E., & Vilkova, N. G. (2017). The demingcycle (PDCA) conceptas a tool for the transition to the innovative path of the continuous quality improvement in production processes of the agro-industrial sector. O10, O31, O32, Q13
  19. Elbadiansyah, E., & Masyni, M. (2021). The implementation of internal quality assurance (IQA) in three private universities in Samarinda. Erudio Journal of Educational Innovation, 8(1), 53-60. 10.18551/erudio.8-1.5
  20. Eshun, P., Dampson, D. G., & Dzakadzie, Y. (2020). Evaluation of Effectiveness of Internal Quality Assurance System in Public Universities in Ghana. Education Quarterly Reviews, 3(2), 237-248. 10.31014/aior.1993.03.02.136
  21. European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (2021). About Quality Assurance. Retrieved from https://www.enqa.eu/about-quality-assurance/. Accessed: June, 9, 2025.
  22. Ferdousi, F., Ahmed, A., & Momen,M. A. (2022). Evolution of quality assurance practices in enhancing the quality of open and distance education in a developing nation: a case study. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal17(2), 147-160. 10.1108/AAOUJ-02-2022-0025
  23. Flores, M. A., Brown, G., Pereira, D., Coutinho, C., Santos, P., & Pinheiro, C. (2020). Portuguese university students’ conceptions of assessment: taking responsibility for achievement. Higher Education, 79(3), 377–394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00415-2
  24. Georgiou, A. & Galanakis, M. (2022). Organizational Psychology Revisited. Goal Setting Theory in Recent Years: A Systematic Literature Review. Psychology Research, 12(12): 919-924. 10.17265/2159-5542/2022.12.001
  25. Government of Ghana. (1994). National Board for Professional and Technician Examination Act 492. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
  26. Government of Ghana. (2007). National Accreditation Board Act 744. Accra: Ghana Publishing Corporation.
  27. Government of Ghana. (2013).Implementation of the Ghana Shared Growthand Development Agenda (GSGDA): 2012 Annual Progress Report. Accra: National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
  28. Government of Ghana. (2016).Technical Universities Act 2016 (ACT 992) Accra: Government of Ghana
  29. Hidayah, A., & Syahrani, S. (2022). Internalquality assurance systemof education in financing standards and assessment standards. Indonesian Journal of Education (INJOE)2(3), 291-300. Retrieved from https://injoe.org/index.php/INJOE/article/view/35
  30. Jahantab, Z. (2021). Role of education in national development. Pakistan Journal of Applied Social Sciences, 12(1), 87-108. https://doi.org/10.46568/pjass.v12i1.543
  31. Javed, Y., Ahmad, S., & Khahro, S. H. (2020). Evaluating the research performance of Islamabad-based higher education institutes. Sage Open, 10(1), 2158244020902085.
  32. Karakhanyan, S., & Stensaker, B. (2020). External quality assurance: The landscape, the players and developmental trends. In Global trends in higher education quality assurance (pp. 11-36). Brill.
  33. Khalil, M. (2021). Responsiveness to quality assurance implementation: an institutional theory perspective. QualityAssurance in Education, 29(1), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-06-2020-0074
  34. Konstantara, M. K., & Galanakis, M. (2022). Organizational & Industrial Psychology in the 21st Century-Goal-Setting Theory and Performance Management: A Systematic Literature Review. Psychology, 13, 790-797.
  35. Kwarteng, A. J. (2022).Ensuring quality in higher educationinstitutions: going beyond quality assurance system. International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 36(4), 569-588. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJPQM.2022.124896
  36. Kwao, M.P & Toolo, L.L. (2025). Efficacy of Quality Assurance Practices in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM). 13. 4147-4157. 10.18535/ijsrm/v13i07.el01.
  37. Lemaitre, M. J., & Karakhanyan, S. (2020). Quality assurance in higher education, a global perspective. In The international encyclopedia of higher education systems and institutions (pp. 2400-2410). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands.
  38. Losada-Vazquez, A. (2022). Organizational Learning at Purpose Driven Enterprise: Action– Research Model for Leadership Improvement. Sustainability, 14:1-15.
  39. Lucander, H., & Christersson, C. (2020). Engagement for quality development in higher education: a process for quality assurance of assessment. Quality in Higher Education, 26(2), 135-155. 10.1080/13538322.2020.1761008
  40. Madani, R. A. (2019).Analysis of educational quality, a goal of education for all policy.Higher Education Studies, 9(1), 100-109. 10.5539/hes.v9n1p100
  41. Manatos, M., Sarrico, C. S. & Rosa, M. J. (2017). The integration of quality management in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review,” Total Quality Management, vol. 28, no. 1/2, pp. 159–75.
  42. Martin, M. (2018). Internal Quality Assurance: Enhancing higher education quality and graduate employability. UNESCO.
  43. Mensah, M. A. (2022).Internal quality assurancepractices in highereducation: Evidence from a Ghanaian university. European Journal of Education Studies, 9(7), ISSN: 2501 – 1111.
  44. Narayanan, R. K., & Nair, M. P. (2018). Internal quality assurance mechanisms in higher education institutions: An empirical study. Journal of Education and Learning, 7(2), 129-139.
  45. Njui, H. W. (2018). Enhancing quality education in universities through innovative IQA tools.European Journal    of Education Studies, 2,1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v0i0.1707
  46. Nyamwesa, A. M., Magambo, E. F., & Onyango, D. O. (2020). Impact of external quality assurance practices on higher education institutions in Tanzania: A reviewpaper. East African   Journal   of   Education   and   Social   Sciences, 1(3), 191-196.10.46606/eajess2020v01i03.0059
  47. Qamar, S. Z., Al-Hinai, N., & Márquez, F. P. G. (2024). Quality Control and Quality Assurance: Techniques and Applications. BoD–Books on Demand.
  48. Rehman, M. U., Nizami, I. F., Ullah, F., & Hussain, I. (2024). IQA Vision Transformed: A Survey of Transformer Architectures in Perceptual Image Quality Assessment. IEEE Access10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3506273
  49. Smolentseva, A. (2023). The contributions of higher educationto society: a conceptual approach.Studiesin Higher Education48(1), 232-247.10.4337/9781035307173.00011
  50. Ta, H. T. T., & Pham, H. T. (2024). Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Tools and Processes Used by Vietnamese Universities: Implications for Continuous Improvement. Vietnam Journal of Education, 138-151. 10.52296/vje.2024.391
  51. Tetteh, G. A., Amoako-Gyampah, K., & Twumasi, J. (2021). Developing a quality assurance identity in a university: a grounded theory approach. QualityAssurance in Education, 29(2/3), 238-258. 10.1108/QAE-12-2020-0141
  52. Tsevi, L. (2014). Private Higher Education’s Quality Assurance in Ghana. International Higher Education, 75:22-24. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2014.75.5437
  53. UNESCO (2022). Beyond Limits. New Ways to Reinvent Higher Education. Working document for the World Higher Education Conference. 18-20 May 2022.
  54. Wolszczak-Derlacz, J. (2017). An evaluation and explanation of (in)efficiency in higher education institutions in Europe and the U.S. with the application of two-stage semi- parametric DEA. Research Policy, 46(9), 1595–1605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.07.010
  55. Zang, P. L., Kwao, M. P., Anim, C. L., & Ahasu, E. K. (2024).Socio-economic characteristics of parents on learners’ educational aspiration: Exploring mechanisms of impact. American Journal of Education and Learning, 9(1), 38–48. 10.55284/ajel.v9i1.1029