Uppsala universitet, Statsvetenskapliga institutionen
Abstract
This study asks what quality is and according to whom, through exploring the understandings of quality among stakeholders within a university’s internal quality assurance system. The focus is on teachers, students, and policy, as well as the difference between them. A case-study is made of two faculties within Uppsala University, with material based on both semi-structured interviews and text analysis of evaluation policy and assessor reports. The findings show a large focus on quality as goal fulfilment among both students and teachers. Ideas diverge where students focus more on relative quality and consistency, and teachers on transforming the students’ thinking. Policy is also focused upon goal fulfilment though kept relatively vague, inviting stakeholders to influence how quality is defined. Theoretical quality concepts from Harvey and Green (1993) are used and developed further in their practical application, with emphasis on the somewhat contested use of quality as consistency within the sphere of higher education. The findings also suggest a need for more explicit discussions between stakeholders regarding the view of quality within the university internal evaluations.
