Challenges and changes in relation to QA policies in Greek HE

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Διαζθάλιζη Ποιόηηηας ζηην Ανωηάηη Εκπαίδεσζη: Η πορεία και οι προοπηικές ΛΑΡΙΑ 28-29 επηεμβρίοσ 2011 Challenges and changes in relation to QA policies in Greek HE

1 Διαζθάλιζη Ποιόηηηας ζηην Ανωηάηη Εκπαίδεσζη: Η πορεία και οι προοπηικές ΛΑΡΙΑ επηεμβρίοσ 2011 Challenges and changes in relation to QA policies in Greek HE Bridging the loop: introducing professionalization in Greek HE management and beyond Antigoni Papadimitriou, PhD Department of Economics Aristotle University Thessaloniki - Greece

2 Objectives of the presentation To address the idea of challenges and changes in Greek universities and QA related policies Challenges at the interface between macro level QA policy and meso, micro levels (university & departmental ) Challenges between introduction & implementation of QA policy Some practical thoughts & observations 2

4 Problem statement to identify relationships between the organizational factors for stability and/or change in Greek universities and the universities adoption (or lack of adoption) of quality management

Education Criteria for Performanc e Excellence ISO standards I.

5 Quality management approaches EUA-IEP MBNQA ISO 9000 Quality practices from abroad European University Association- Institutional Evaluation Programme Malcolm Baldrige Education Criteria for Performanc e Excellence ISO standards I. Weaving excellence at WCU II. Quality Improvem ent at CBS III. Assessme nt Plan & Strategic Planning at IUPUI

6 Greece During the years , the Greek government tried to implement the declaration of Bologna through massive reforms aiming at the university system. These actions led to universities being taken over by the students, massive protests, police violence and riots.

Open systems & Neoinstitutional Theory (Coercive, Normative,

Mission Vision Leadership QUALITY Decision-Making MANAGEMENT Age

Complexity Location Economic Range Aim of Studies Technological

7 Open systems & Neoinstitutional Theory (Coercive, Normative, Mimetic) UNIVERSITY Powell & DiMaggio 1983 CHARACTERISTICS Mission Vision Leadership QUALITY Decision-Making MANAGEMENT Age ENVIRONMENT Formalization Size Political/Legal Centralization Complexity Location Economic Range Aim of Studies Technological Scope European Models Sociocultural T H E O R E T I C A L F R A M E W O R K

8 Empirical Studies Macro Level Meso Level Micro Level

9 Findings Coercive Normative Mimetic Macro ++ Meso Micro: Departmental Lab & Ac. Ser

10 Isomorphism & quality assurance policy Meyer and Rowan (1977) as well as Zucker (1987) observed that as practices become institutionalized, they become regarded in society as legitimate and are adopted by organizations for legitimacy reasons and not for efficiency (strategic use). Antigoni Papadimitriou 10

11 Adoption of QM & challenges from a policy and juridical perspective, the Bologna Declaration should be seen as a general policy agenda on a policy level it is easy to accept the goal of a more inclusive European higher education In practice? Antigoni Papadimitriou 11

12 Challenges a challenge to higher education is to guide inexperienced faculty in order to make the process easier and not a process that should give rise to window-dressing Papadimitriou & Westerheijden, 2009 the adoption of quality assurance for accountability and performance improvement requires the tripod of coercive, normative and mimetic isomorphism. Papadimitriou, 2011 Antigoni Papadimitriou 12

13 Challenges Coercive = law what we have to avoid as policy Mimetic = copy from the best but without taking into account how this practice is appropriate for our situation and culture in general Normative = give trust and credit to professionals; development of IR Training adoption of the full P-D-C-A cycle, not only the start 13

14 Bridging the loop in the P-D-C-A cycle in Greek HE and beyond ACT PLAN Development of IR & Training CHECK DO Antigoni Papadimitriou 14

15 IR IR activities focus on data collection, on developing data definitions and information systems and on quantitative, descriptive analyze of enrolment, space utilization, costs, student and faculty characteristics and examining various selfstudy issues Peterson, 2003, p. 31 Antigoni Papadimitriou 15

16 Challenges and IR European Scholars development of IR totally connected to the university autonomy to the power that European university s leaders have US scholars with the ways to have a good response rate each university manages assessments in different ways: the definition of assessment is a moving target professionalization 16 Ant

17 Advantages and IR European scholars US scholars Doing more with less = universities benefit from the research and also find solutions by employing systematic and innovative processes IR = repository that will provide information to institutional leaders in order to manage their universities in more effective ways. IR could help universities provide secure and accurate information to stakeholders and to policy makers. very helpful for universities as they monitor their peers performance for benchmarking purposes 17 Ant

18 QM training tips participants in management training need to know about QM principles, techniques, tools & skills for on the job applications useful in a wide range of business and universities teaching, learning, and services leadership involvement and support training process could begin by prioritizing the university s needs assessment as well as those of its departments Antigoni Papadimitriou 18

19 QM training tips (2) attention during training is the resistance factor from management since any unknown (change) is usually met first with resistance training sessions could be divided into strategic and operational tasks of the university and its departments effective training must also take into account how changes fit into each university s legal regulatory framework university mission & vision will guide & prioritize areas for improvement. Antigoni Papadimitriou 19

20 QM training tips (3) development of a central institutional quality policy academic departments within the humanities need more attention since these departments often have different perspectives about quality issues important to address what similar departments have done abroad as a means to identify the best approach for QM training invite experts from abroad who will have the trust and the respect from the Greek academia Antigoni Papadimitriou 20

21 Food for thoughts Association development for QA dialogue & share Q&A etc. Publication about QA in Greek Participation in European conferences about QA Invitation to host a QA conference i.e. EAIR 2012 similar conference hosted by another University/TEI Action by HEIs - Professional reports and studies about Greek HE developments, (hired professionals in higher education policy and evaluation) What type of knowledge should a modernized university seek to develop and transmit and for what purpose? Education for what and for whom? Do we need professionalization in higher education management? If so do we need training for QM?

22 Thank you!!!! 22 Ant

23 References Papadimitriou, A. (2011). The enigma of quality in Greek higher education: A mixed methods study of introducing quality management into Greek higher education. Enshcede, the Netherlands: University of Twente, CHEPS. Papadimitriou, A. (2011, in press). Reforms, leadership, and quality management in Greek higher education, Tertiary Education and Management. Papadimitriou, A. & Westerheijden, D.F., What kind of universities in Greece invited external evaluation (EUA-IEP)? Isomorphic pressures and leadership: The Greek case, Quality in Higher Education. 17(2), Papadimitriou, A. (2011). Academic freedom and student grading within Greek higher education, Quality in Higher Education 17(1), Papadimitriou, A. & Westerheijden, D.F. (2010). Adoption of ISO-oriented quality management tools in Greek universities: Reactions to isomorphic pressures, TQM Journal, 22(3), pp