Public Perception of the Quality of Academic Education Program

Abstract

There is no information on what exactly quality is as perceived by the public as the potential recipients of education programs to guide policy makers to deliver quality. This study explored the determinants of quality of education program as perceived by the public. This study is important because a quality concept starts from customers according to which the providers should develop their programs. Following the theory of customers’ perceptions, this study assessed stakeholders’ beliefs about quality of education program rather than objective reality that organizations offer as quality education. Through a survey on about 220 respondents and corresponding data analysis, this study found out the determinants of perceived quality of education with special reference to MBA programs in Nepal. The variables included in this study were quality of faculty, quality of infrastructure, graduate employability, curriculum and reputation as antecedents of perceived quality and perceived value. This study found out that perceived quality is determined by reputation of the program as credible and trustworthy which is influenced by graduate employability, practical curriculum and competent faculty.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jer.v3i0.7852Journal of Education and Research March 2013, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 52-64