NAVIGATING THE QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS THROUGH QUALITY ASSURANCE: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY

Ariessa U. Codilla, Elleine Rose A. Oliva

Abstract


This study examined how higher education institutions (HEIs) navigated accreditation, addressed challenges and sustained quality assurance. A qualitative multiple-case study design was used involving six HEIs from the Davao region who were purposively selected. Key institutional representatives who were directly involved in the accreditation process were interviewed, and data gathered were analyzed using thematic and cross-case analysis. Findings revealed that institutions pursued accreditation to meet standards, improve quality, develop a quality assurance culture, and strengthen competitiveness and stakeholder responsiveness. Challenges in leadership, workload, documentation, resources, readiness and resistance were addressed through strategic leadership, collaboration, documentation systems, capacity building and continuous improvement. Insights showed that accreditation can be considered as an institutionalized process that integrates quality assurance into an organizational culture. The cross-case analysis revealed strong similarities across six cases, indicating that accreditation was commonly experienced as a shared, continuous, and systems-based process aimed at institutional development. The study recommends that higher education institutions institutionalize the accreditation process supported by strategic planning, effective leadership, collaborative governance, systematic documentation and continuous monitoring for institutional improvement and global competitiveness.

Keywords


educational management, private higher education institutions, qualitative research, multiple case study, University of Mindanao, Philippines

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejhrms.v10i3.2285

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