Abstract:

Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) is one of the most known assessment models in the world. The MBNQA has been considered as a mean of recognizing and promoting exemplary quality management practices.

The aim of this essay is to study the implementation of TQM principles in Higher Education Institutions through the implementation of Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) as a self-assessment tool in Tertiary Education according to Greek Pre-service teachers’ perceptions. Quality in Tertiary Education includes among others the role of Leadership in Organizational Management.

MBNQA’s framework is based on seven independent quality criteria: Leadership, Strategic Planning, Customer/Student Focus, Process Management, Human Resource/Staff Focus, Measurement, Analysis & Knowledge Management, and Organizational Performance Results. The study focuses on Leadership. Leadership is a key factor in shaping and defining processes and practices that apply to the educational organization. Leadership sets the goals, vision and determines the course and future of the organization, ensures and promotes Continuous Improvement, Creating a Quality Culture and Achieving Business Excellence.

Leadership criterion is constituted by 49 items and is determined by 5 dimensions/ conceptual constructs named Organizational leadership-Senior leadership direction, Organizational leadership-Organizational governance, Organizational leadership-Organizational performance review, Social responsibility-Responsibilities to the public, Social responsibility-ethical behavior and Social responsibility-support of key communities.

The results highlight the strength and weak elements regarding Leadership criterion.

The paper calls for more research on how Secondary Education perceived Quality in Education base on MBNQA Principals.

The paper expands existing literature, focusing on MBNQA Principals related to Leadership.

Keywords:

MBNQA Model, Quality, Education, Greece.