Abstract:

The Malaysian Quality Assurance (QA) policy was formulated with the aim to enhance internal quality assurance among the private and public higher education institutions and it is expected to achieve a balance of autonomy and accountability in higher education. This study examines how two case private universities implemented the policy and it is guided by theoretical underpinning of Van Meter and Van Horn Policy Implementation Model. In the model, the implementation process become successful, that is, the goal of the QA would only achieved at the end point after the six factors have been addressed. An examination of those factors in the context of this study will be discussed. However, the model itself raises some questions and perhaps requires some modifications. This study proposed a modified policy implementation model, which is useful and applicable in explaining how QA policy decisions are being transformed into intended outcomes (as well as unintended outcomes) through implementation process by giving attention to the seven clusters of variables that affect the delivery of policy and the monitoring feedback process.

Keywords:

Quality assurance, Malaysian higher education, policy implementation, modified model.