publisher
Navigating institutional audit: a new institutional theory perspective on quality assurance in Ghanaian universities
- Source
- Frontiers in Education
- Published
- Last verified
- 11 Aug 2026
- Confidence
- High
- Evidence
- Original document retained
- Reading time
- 1 min
- Country
- International
- Relevant to
- Operations & Delivery, Research & Evidence, Risk & Compliance, Technology & Data
Executive summary
What happened, and why should leadership care?
Research from 'Frontiers in Education' highlights challenges in quality assurance (QA) audit systems within Ghanaian universities, noting the rapid expansion of higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa and the adoption of international QA frameworks. This qualitative study, utilizing New Institutional Theory (NIT), investigates how senior leaders in four Ghanaian public universities interpret and react to institutional audit pressures. The research points to a gap in understanding African perspectives on QA audits, particularly regarding leadership responses.
Why this matters
Why is this strategically important?
Understanding how leaders in rapidly expanding educational systems interpret and respond to international quality assurance frameworks is crucial for ensuring the effectiveness and legitimacy of higher education institutions. This insight can inform the development of more contextually relevant and sustainable quality assurance policies and operational strategies, preventing potential disconnects between global standards and local implementation realities.
Key insights
What should be noted from the evidence?
- Rapid expansion of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa has led to significant implementation challenges for quality assurance (QA) audit systems.
- QA audit systems in the region are often modeled on international frameworks, contributing to implementation difficulties.
- There is a research gap regarding how institutional leaders in African contexts interpret and respond to QA audit pressures.
- The study specifically examines senior leaders' perceptions and responses to institutional audits in four Ghanaian public universities using New Institutional Theory.
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 university leaders, including Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, QA Directors, and Deans of Academic Affairs.
Evidence and confidence
How far can this assessment be trusted?
High confidence. Named institution, original document retained and analysis corroborated.
Analysis is prepared editorially by Aziz Shuaib Ausi. The original publication remains the authoritative record, and executive judgement remains entirely human.
Source
Where does this originate?
Reported by Frontiers in Education · International. This briefing summarises the publication for executive use; the document itself is not reproduced here.
Read the original publication