Development of Total Quality Management Framework for Higher Education Institutions in Ghana-A Case Study of Three Public Universities

Abstract

This study assesses total quality management practices among Higher Education Institutions. The driving force for this investigation includes issues of concern in recent years. An educational system which was once envied by countries in Africa and beyond is gradually losing its enviable position which may be attributed to the lack of TQM framework and inefficient influences of external quality assurance bodies within the Ghana Higher Education Institutions in monitoring the courses and modules offered and the type of teaching and learning that goes on in the institutions as the central point in this study. The mixed method approach was adopted, specifically both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Analysis were performed on three HEIs Namely: University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, and University of Mines with a total population of 36. The findings from the study indicated the average level at which the critical success factors are adopted to achieve effective quality management in HEIs is 2.56 (51%). This percentage according to the researcher‟s judgment shows that the level at which the critical success factors are practiced to achieve effective quality management in HEIs is relatively low since 51% of the respondents did not agree that the critical success factors for effective implementation of TQM in HEIs is actually adopted by the selected HEIs in this study. The findings from the interview responses led to the conclusion that there is absence of TQM philosophy in public HEIs. From the findings, it was concluded that management attitude towards TQM is partial. It revealed that management only show commitment towards Quality Assurance and Quality Control which are aspects of TQM and not Total Quality Management. This is said to be as a result of the philosophy of TQM not well-known and hence not well embraced.