Student involvement in quality assurance: perspectives and practices towards persistent partnerships

Abstract

Students are, in some regions and countries in the world, one of the key stakeholders that are included in quality assurance processes, although their participation is missing in others. However, there is an increasing interest in including students in quality assurance processes, both internally at the institutional level and externally as part of the national and regional accreditations or evaluations of institutions or their educational offerings. This article identifies key practices and dilemmas when involving students in quality assurance and discusses the conditions facilitating a partnership with students in these processes. In the conclusion, it is argued for an approach where students are recognised as having expertise that is valuable in quality assurance.