Abstract:

With reference to South African higher education quality assessment bodies as formalized and legislated, within a transformed societal context, much focus has been placed on quality assurance within educational institutions. Prior to 1994, traditional universities were responsible for their own internal quality assurance mechanisms, with only the technical education sector (polytechnics) being subject to a legislated quality assurance body (Certification Council for Technikon Education- SERTEC).

The higher education quality committee (HEQC), in the new context is responsible for quality criteria, evaluations and reviews within all institutions. This paper examines the criteria, and the application as practiced within the context of the higher education challenges.

Specifically, the authors examine the review processes and findings as applied within the Faculty of Business, Management Sciences and Law at WSU. This is posed against the theoretical backdrop of quality assurance as debated by South African educational theorists.

Keywords:

quality assurance, higher education, south africa, walter sisulu university, eastern cape.