Accreditation and quality assurance in higher education institutions: a systematic literature review and a research agenda

Numerous studies and surveys have examined the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Higher Education (HE), but the lack of studies on the utilization of ICTs in Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) of HE led us to perform a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). This review mainly benefits QAA agencies and researchers interested in utilizing ICTs for QAA of HE. Several contributions of ICTs to QAA of HE are identified. 1) Compared to QAA agencies, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are more likely to implement ICTs. 2) Most ICTs in HEIs are for Quality Assurance (QA). 3) Most previous studies were conducted in Europe, demonstrating that efforts have been made to align QAA agencies and HEI QAA units with European Standards. Consequently, ICTs are more often utilized by European HEIs. Furthermore, we investigated the QAA status in a developing country (Afghanistan) as a case study.

Numerous studies and surveys have examined the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Higher Education (HE). However, the absence of studies that specifically investigate the utilization of ICTs in Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) of HE led us to perform a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). This review mainly benefits QAA agencies and researchers interested in utilizing ICTs for QAA of HE. Several facts regarding ICTs contribute to QAA of HE are identified. 1) Compared to QAA agencies, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are more likely to implement ICTs. 2) Most of the ICTs in HEIs are for Quality Assurance (QA) and not Accreditation. 3) Most previous studies were conducted in Europe. These studies demonstrate that efforts have been made to align the QAA agencies and HEI QAA units with European Standards, resulting in ICTs utilization into European HEIs.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the extant literature to analyze the relationship between quality assurance (QA) and innovation in the higher education context.Design/methodology/approachThis study selected 63 articles through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science databases and performed a descriptive and thematic synthesis-analysis on the sample.FindingsThe research identifies several perspectives discussed on QA systems covering experiences, criticisms and practice implications. The literature review shows there is no clear consensus on whether innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs) is fostered or hindered by QA processes. However, it seems that the likelihood of innovativeness and positive QA outcomes are directly linked to how these processes are managed in universities.Research limitations/implicationsThis review highlights the university management concerns that emerge with QA issues as it is not yet clear to what extent innovation is actually promoted in scenarios where QA is applied. Hence, this literature review could be considered comprehensive but not exhaustive. Further studies are recommended to improve the understanding of how HEIs can both innovate and ensure quality at the same time.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the existing body of knowledge by advancing the opportunities and challenges that HEIs face due to QA system features.

In accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education" "The system of ensuring the quality of educational activities and the quality of higher educa-tion (system of internal quality assurance) by a higher education institution is evaluated by the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education or independent institutions accredited by it for the assessment and quali-ty assurance of higher education on the subject of its compliance with the requirements for the system of quali-ty assurance of higher education approved by the Nation-al Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education". The development of the systemof internal quality assurance of the institution of higher education remains a problem, since there are currently no clear requirements for the criteria, procedures and measures of its evaluation. How-ever, there are minimum and recommended system re-quirements and, if we analyze the regulations on the internal quality assurance systems of the higher educa-tion institution, on the divisions of the higher education institution that ensure the functioning of the system as a whole, we can come to the conclusion that in the most institutions of higher education neither minimum nor recommended system requirements are not hold.Methods:analysis and synthesis. Results.The study of the development of the system of internal quality assurance of a higher education institu-tion was conducted.Originality.Originality. In this article, based on the re-sults of the research:the system of internal quality assurance of a higher education institution is a system that consists of a set of interconnected elements (department of internal quality assurance of the educational process, four groups of stakeholders (students of higher education according to the educational program; graduates of the educational program; representatives of employers (customers); repre-sentatives of theacademic community (research and teaching staff)), the academic council, the group of tele-communication networks and information systems, the information and communication service, as well as the scientific and organizational department), which form a single whole, interact with the environment and among themselves was determined;the presence/absence of the cycle of changing the sta-tus of a stakeholder, applicant -graduate -employer representative -scientific and pedagogical worker in the system of internal quality assurance of a higher education institution is the most important criterion for evaluating this system was established;the methodology of studying and introducing the expe-rience of professional activity into the educational process was defined;the presence of the dependence of the development of the internal quality assurance system on the introduction of professional activity experience into the educational process of the higher education institution was substanti-ated.The existence of the dependence of the development of the internal quality assurance system on the introduction of professional activity experience into the educational process of a higher education institution was substantiat-ed, the methodology of studying and introducing theexpe-rience of professional activity into the educational process was proposed.

This systematic literature review examines talent development (TD) as part of the talent management (TM) approach taken by higher education institutions. The aim is to consolidate the conceptualisation of TD, its main themes and challenges, and potential TD research at higher education institutions (HEIs). Scopus and Web of Science databases were used for the article search. Employing a PRISMA protocol and meticulous rejection criteria, 57 articles were ultimately included in the review. The contribution of the review is that it systemises current knowledge about TD within higher education institutions and identifies transverse themes and tensions in the literature. The themes reveal contextual influences, higher education managerialism triggering new skills development, institutional support and alignment, the role of line managers, and underutilised and unstructured talent development. The potential avenues for future research include examining the socio-political and contextual factors that affect TD, adopting a multidimensional approach involving stakeholders and various actors, and exploring the systematic implementation of TD practices.

Quality assurance and accreditation has become essential components of higher education globally. Policy implementation is necessary for quality assurance and accreditation in Nepalese higher education institutions offering hospitality education. The study aims to explore the current state of policy implementation, identify the challenges and gaps in the implementation process, and recommend strategies for improving the policy implementation. The study uses a descriptive research design with a mixed approach using structured questionnaire and structure interview schedule about the implementation of QAA in the Nepalese higher education institution offering hospitality education. This study uses purposive sampling. This study includes14 hospitality management professionals and 97 hospitality students. The study finds that Nepal has recognized the importance of quality assurance and accreditation in higher education, and policies have been developed to implement them in the hospitality education sector. However, the implementation of these policies faces several challenges and gaps. This study emphasizes stakeholder participation, clear policies, and transparent feedback. Clear curriculum, various teaching techniques, and student-accessible amenities improve campus culture and student achievement. Resources, interdisciplinary research, and real-world research improve learners and community. Resource allocation, capacity-building, partnerships, staff professional development, and funding exploration can improve quality assurance, UGC compliance, and student happiness.

In post-war Taiwan, the operation of higher education institutions (HEIs) has gradually transformed from the state-dominated model to the self-operated along with the line of socio-political modernization. This chapter depicts the historical development of higher education in Taiwan which serves as the factor influencing the implementation of quality assurance in higher education including quality accreditation, quality control, and quality audit. It then moves forward to discuss the current higher education policies associated with the quality assurance, particularly the higher education accreditation in the program level since the year of 2006. Furthermore, currently the Ministry of Education (MOE) has started to encourage more and more of the institutional self-evaluation rather than quality accreditation from Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT). Focusing on the theme of quality assurance, the principal investigators adopt McDonaldization and Academic Capitalism as the theoretical concepts to figure out the pro and con of quality assurance in Taiwan’s higher education for figuring out the paradigm shift and seeking some possible niche for the future development.

Background. In the current landscape marked by russia's armed aggression, Ukraine's higher military educational institutions continue to fortify their internal quality assurance systems. The enhancement of these systems is impossible without taking into account the best world practices and achievements in this area, notably gleaned from international official documents. This study aims to formulate proposals for improving internal quality assurance in military higher educational institutions of Ukraine, taking into account the provisions of international documents. Methods. The source base of the study is formed by documents of international organizations on quality assurance in the field of higher education, and international agreements of Ukraine on cooperation in the field of training military specialists. Dialectical, historical, comparative-legal methods are used to track the transformation of views on solving the problems of internal quality assurance in higher education institutions; systemstructural, formal-logical methods – to determine the provisions that should be taken into account in the process of improving internal quality assurance in military higher educational institutions of Ukraine; methods of analysis, generalization and synthesis – for the development of proposals. Results. Summarized and systematized international official documents (agreements, protocols, conventions, recommendations, standards, declarations, communiqués, messages, charters) are classified into three categories: documents that define national policies to encourage higher education institutions to implement internal quality assurance systems; documents that provide methodological assistance in the formation of internal quality assurance systems; documents on cooperation in the field of training military specialists. The provisions that should be taken into account in the process of improving internal quality assurance in Ukraine's military higher educational institutions have been determined. Proposals for the implementation of these provisions in domestic regulations have been developed. Conclusions. This study's outcomes develop the ideas of other researchers on the expediency of taking into account the Standards and Recommendations for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area, alongside NATO Quality Standards by Ukraine's military higher educational institutions in the process of improving internal quality assurance.

The higher education and training sector focus on lifelong learning, world of work and the future. With regard to this, the current focus of higher education sector is on quality assurance procedures that emphasise accountability, compliance and standards which could be acquired through quality assurance of student’s assessment. This paper demystifies the quality of students learning in further education training college and higher education sector. Quality assurance of student’s assessment is the most important activity and further education and training college is also the specialisation that needs to be natured for economic development of any global community. But in contrary quality assurance of student’s assessment is the most overlooked activity further education training college sector within the holistic higher education paradigm – the academic culture that has endangered and alienated students and staff to the detriment of the system as a whole. If quality assurance system as pertained to higher education assessment of students learning parameter of further education and training college are to be recognized, the increasing diverse nature of higher technical and vocational education institutions, in the millennium, accountability, high standards and compliance will need to be balanced by a greater emphasis on encouraging and promoting innovation, self-improvement and credentials of higher calibre of individual student’s ability and competence in combating local and regional poverty. It is of salient phenomena for both quality assurance agencies and institutions themselves to operationalise viable mechanism and adapt their policies, procedures and culture if higher education and training system is to respond positively to student’s quality assurance assessment and be provided with essential required skills in lifelong learning, work and the future framework for the new millennium. This paper argues that whilst quality assurance of student learning assessment is understandable within the theoretical and practical academic framework in higher education institutions, there have erupted heuristic issues that deserve immediate and particular attention in the 21 century. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p447

Purpose This study presents a systematic literature review of halal food (HF) customer behaviour using the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases. This study aims to identify trends, methodologies, theoretical developments and determinants of HF customer behaviour in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as potential future research directions. Design/methodology/approach This study extends the bibliometric and systematic literature review covering all variables in customers purchasing HF by extracting the Scopus and WoS databases. We used the SLR method via the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model. A total of 43 samples related to customer behaviour towards HF articles were identified and reviewed. Findings This study found 43 articles discussing variables or factors that influence consumers’ behaviour towards HF in Indonesia and Malaysia. Quantitative methods and extended TPB theory are most widely used to measure the determinants of customer behaviour towards HFs. Religiosity, attitude, halal awareness and trust are the most dominant factors that significantly influence customer behaviour towards HF. This study suggests several potential future research directions. Research limitations/implications The HF industry, marketers and governments in Indonesia and Malaysia must ensure that their products meet consumer expectations by implementing halalan thayyiban and strengthening HF marketing strategies based on halal-labelled food. Originality/value This study is the first to examine the factors determining customer behaviour towards HF in Indonesia and Malaysia using a systematic literature review method from Scopus and the WoS database.

Institutional accreditation in higher education presents a dual reality: Accreditation is intended to hold colleges and universities accountable through external evaluation and, at the same time, accreditation constitutes an opportunity for higher education leaders to assess, improve, and communicate the quality of their undertakings. In an increasingly global field of higher education, quality practices become diffused across national boundaries. U.S. institutional accreditation is one of the quality practices embraced around the world; institutions of higher education, particularly in the Global South, aspire to obtain U.S. institutional accreditation. While important, this phenomenon has gone largely unexamined in research. This study follows an ethnographic case study approach to explore in-depth how a Mexican institution of higher education engaged in the process of institutional accreditation with a U.S. regional accrediting agency. One Mexican university located only a few miles away from the U.S.-Mexico border was selected as the site for conducting this case study. The university obtained initial institutional accreditation in 2012, which presented a valuable opportunity for conducting the study. After analyzing line by line nearly 500 pages of documents and conducting thirteen interviews with faculty and administrators from the university, this project presents findings organized around four major themes: (a) Reputational value is a central motivation to pursue U.S. accreditation given that, through accreditation, the institution in Mexico becomes connected to internationally recognized universities; (b) while desirable from many perspectives, the accreditation process triggers a set of intra-organizational dynamics and stressors, chief among them is a complex division of labor in which faculty members are necessary yet distanced from decision making; (c) compliance with highly challenging – yet perceived as fair – standards legitimizes both accreditation process and the U.S. accreditors that are perceived as reluctant players in a process mainly intended to assist emergent systems of higher education; and (d) language and translation are significant concepts to understand the accreditation process as they also establish power relations in which proximity and similarity to the U.S. grants power to the candidate institution. Based on the empirical findings, different interpretations of U.S. institutional accreditation are discussed along with the implications of the study for policy, practice, and further research.

Problem setting. Higher education is the most important component of national capital. It helps to overcome social conflicts that exist in modern society. In this regard, the priority development of higher education is considered in the countries of the world as a driving force of social progress.
 Recent research and publications analysis. The study of the problem of ensuring the quality of higher education belongs to the sphere of scientific interests of both Ukrainian and foreign scientists. Among modern domestic researchers dealing with theoretical and methodological issues of higher quality assurance, such scientists as N. Batechko, O. Zhornova, S. Karpenchuk, T. Krystopchuk, V. Moroz, T. Dobko, I. Zolotaryova, S. Kalashnikova, V. Kovtunets, S. Kurbatov, I. Linyova, V. Lugovoi, I. Prokhor, N. Sydorenko, I. Stankevich, I. Sikorska, Zh. Talanova, M. Trebin, T. Finikov, S. Sharov and others. A significant contribution to the theoretical development of higher quality assurance problems was also made by foreign scientists ‑ K. Argyris, G. Becker, J. Brennan, R. Brown, L. Brockerhoff, R. Williams, A. Helmke, G. Papadopoulos, E. Sallis, R. Harris, S. Harris-Hemmert, D. Schön, and others. Despite the fact that the understanding of various problems of ensuring higher quality has been widely reflected in the scientific literature, a number of issues that need to be constantly considered remain debatable.
 Paper objective. The purpose of the article is to study the essence of the concept of “higher education quality” in the modern socio-philosophical discourse; consideration of methodological approaches to the analysis of this phenomenon; identification of the main factors that determine the effectiveness of the higher education quality assurance system.
 Paper main body. Ensuring the quality of higher education is currently an extremely acute issue for many countries. This is primarily related to the transition from elite to mass higher education, the active introduction of modern distance learning information technologies into the educational process, the need to ensure the competitiveness of graduates of higher education institutions in the conditions of a globalized labor market and academic mobility, etc. In Ukraine, the problem of ensuring the quality of higher education is gaining particular importance. This is evidenced by state programs for the development of higher education, including the Law “On Higher Education”, in which for the first time a separate section dedicated to the problems of ensuring the quality of higher education appears.
 Three quality models of higher education are known in the world, namely: 1. “English”, based on the internal self-assessment of the academic community. The formation of such a mechanism for assessing the quality of education is connected with the significant autonomy of educational institutions in Great Britain and the decentralization of education management. In this country, there is a multi-level system of accreditation of universities and educational programs. This model of education quality assessment also prevails in Australia, and a new approach to the accreditation of educational programs has been introduced. The accreditation procedure includes, along with internal evaluations and quality guarantees, external criteria and recommendations from industrial enterprises; 2. The “French” model provides for an external evaluation of higher education institutions to determine their responsibility to society; 3. The “American” model, which is actually being implemented in Ukraine today, is an organic combination of the two mentioned, which gives it significant advantages and wide opportunities in its application, as it provides for both public and state forms of control of the achieved results.
 The implementation of European standards and recommendations for ensuring the quality of higher education is implemented in the activities of higher education institutions of Ukraine. Art. 16 Chap. V of the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” defines the structure of the higher education quality assurance system. It is noted that the quality assurance system of higher education in Ukraine consists of: 1) systems of ensuring the quality of educational activities and the quality of higher education by institutions of higher education (system of internal quality assurance); 2) systems of external assurance of the quality of educational activities of institutions of higher education and the quality of higher education; 3) systems of quality assurance of activities of the National Agency for Quality Assurance of Higher Education and independent institutions of assessment and quality assurance of higher education.
 Conclusions of the research. The system of higher education of Ukraine must follow the path of mutual approximation of its own achievements and the latest European experience in the issue of ensuring the quality of higher education in modern conditions of social development. This will contribute to the growth of the competitiveness of graduates of Ukrainian higher education institutions, the full entry of higher education institutions of Ukraine into the European area of higher education.

Th e article discusses the features of the innovative type of social development and reveals the essence of an innovative society. The conditions of its formation. Particular attention is given to the quality of higher education. We study the system of higher educa- tion quality: quality of higher education building, the quality of the process of higher edu- cation and quality results of higher education. Different approaches to ensure the quality of higher education as a prerequisite for becoming an innovative society in Ukraine. Critical to the innovative development of higher education Ukraine should solve the problem of quality assurance. Its review should be carried out in the context of the Bologna Process, to which Ukraine was in 2005. Being a member of the Bologna process, Ukraine has committed to work to bring the quality of national education in line with Europeanм standa r d s and harmonization of legal and regulatory changes in higher education accord- ing to the standards and recommendations of the European higher education. The real change in the quality assurance of higher education institutions of higher education must take place with the implementation of the Law «On higher education», according to which the defined quality assurance system of higher education, which consists of: 1) system of universities as educational activities and quality of higher education (sys- tem of internal quality assurance); 2) a system of external quality assurance of higher education institutions and quality assurance; 3) quality assurance system of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in higher education institutions and independent assessment and quality assurance. Effective tool to ensure the quality of higher education in Ukraine serve European and national qualifications framework, including Qualifications Frame- work European Higher Education Area (2005), the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (2003), the National Qualifications Framework (2011) and the imple- mentation of internal and external quality assurance in accordance with the standards and guidelines for quality Assurance in the European higher education area. Thus, innovative society marks a transition from a society based on industrial technologies to society, the basic content of which is innovation. It connects humanity with innovations its future fate, seeing them as the main source of social needs and the most important means of solving practical and spiritual problems. One of the most important conditions for innovative development of Ukrainian society is quality assurance, to ensure which requires imple- mentation of competency approach to the analysis of the quality of higher education, the implementation of complex tools of internal and external quality assurance in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the European Higher Education as a basis for the integration of the national system of quality assurance in the European system of as- sessment of learning outcomes of higher education applicants.

Purpose The study aims to identify trends, methodologies, theory development, factors influencing Zakat compliance behaviour, lessons for Zakat institutions and potential future research directions. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a bibliometric and systematic literature review, along with content analysis, to address the research objectives by extracting data from the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases (2009–2025). The authors used the SLR method through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses model. Based on the established inclusion and exclusion criteria, the authors identified a final set of 34 articles related to the topic, which were subsequently reviewed and analysed. Findings The findings indicate the research trends in Zakat compliance behaviour in the Scopus and WoS databases from 2009–2025, with significant growth observed in 2018. The leading source titles primarily include the Journal of Islamic Accounting and Business Research, the International Journal of Ethics and Systems and the Jurnal Pengurusan. Furthermore, quantitative methods and the extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model are mostly used to measure the determinants of Zakat compliance behaviour. The most significant determinants of Zakat compliance behaviour include religiosity, trust, Zakat knowledge, beliefs (perceived taqwa), peer influence, attitudes, subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioural control (PBC). These findings also offer valuable insights for Zakat institutions to achieve the objectives of an Islamic economic system, social welfare and SDG 1 (no poverty). Research limitations/implications This study teaches Zakat institutions to build good governance and marketing strategies for Zakat in a digital context. The government also needs to provide regulations for the Zakat system to support economic development. The study provides insights into the literature on Zakat compliance behaviour, contributing to the advancement of research on Zakat compliance in Muslim countries. Originality/value This study is the earlier exploration of the factors determining Zakat compliance behaviour using a systematic literature review method and content analysis from the Scopus and WoS databases.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive critical review of previous research on Shariah governance (SG) during the past three decades. This research addresses a critical research problem: the fragmentation of knowledge regarding how SG characteristics affect the multidimensional performance of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) beyond conventional financial metrics. Despite the growing importance of IFIs in the global financial system, we still inadequately understand how SG practices influence operational efficiency, risk profiles, stakeholder trust and long-term sustainability. This limitation hinders the development of comprehensive SG frameworks that could enhance the resilience and ethical compliance of IFIs. In addition, this study offers insights into the phases of development of SG, identifies the critical gaps in the literature and recommends for future research. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors use a systematic literature review approach for a sample of 110 studies from Scopus and Web of Science databases. Based on identified quality assessment criteria, they evaluated the sample of this study in terms of journals, methodology, theories, modelling, research outcomes and SGs features. Findings Using a systematic literature review approach for a sample of 110 studies from Scopus and Web of Science databases, this paper findings demonstrate that there is a growing interest to explore further SG aspects because of the rapid steady growth and the high performance of IFIs. Likewise, the review reveals that most of existing studies are quantitative and were carried out using archived data. In addition, the existing literature has primarily focused on the outcomes of SG. Overall, this paper shows that there are plenty avenues for future research. The findings identify a number of methodological problems and concerns and discuss the implications of these problems, while also providing recommendations for future research. Research limitations/implications This paper makes significant contributions to both corporate finance literature and practical applications in several important ways. First, this study represents a pioneering comprehensive examination of all aspects of SG, filling a notable gap in existing literature. By using a systematic approach, the authors thoroughly evaluate relevant previous works on SG and provide evidence-based recommendations for future research directions, creating a foundation for scholarly advancement in this field. Second, through the synthesis and analysis of an extensive body of research, this study develops a nuanced understanding of the economic consequences of SG mechanisms. These insights offer substantial practical value by providing evidence-based guidance to practitioners and regulatory bodies in developing more effective policies and recommendations. Financial institutions can leverage these findings to design governance frameworks that enhance compliance while optimizing performance, while regulators can use this synthesis to revise the current policy framework and formulate more comprehensive and effective oversight mechanisms that address the unique challenges of IFIs. Practical implications Through the systematic literature review of the economic consequences of SG, the authors demonstrate that the societal implications extend beyond the financial sector. The findings reveal how strong SG practices enhance public trust and financial inclusion, particularly among conservative Muslim communities. Improved governance mechanisms promote responsible financial practices, influencing policy development and enhancing financial literacy at the community level. These outcomes illustrate the practical impact of governance improvements on community well-being and social development. Originality/value To the best knowledge of the authors, this study contributes to the literature by being the first of its kind to discuss the development of SG literature. This study provides a comprehensive knowledge assessment of existent SG research and offers advice regarding improvements in research, policy and practice by identifying possible knowledge gaps. Accordingly, this study offers a consistent summary of the past and a roadmap for future research on SG.