The Role of Managers in Crafting and Implementing a Quality Assurance Strategy within the Public Universities of the Republic of Kosovo

Shqiponja Nallbani

doi:10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n2s1p187

Abstract

Public universities in our country, much like European universities, are seeking to create effective academic mechanisms in order to establish a Kosovo of Knowledge society. In this regard, they must take more responsibility to ensure quality, and in return, also demand from the government and civil society to assume their share of responsibility in order to enable universities to provide resources that will allow them to meet the mission in the best possible manner. This would allow academic institutions to be competitive not only in the area of higher education system but also in a broader spectrum. It is not only Europe, but the entire world is becoming a knowledge society, and Kosovo, as a country in transition, has no alternative but to join this effort. To achieve this, MEST together with all stakeholders of higher education, have an obligation to continuously review and harmonize the legislative framework and strategic documents pertaining to quality assurance, and thus become active and creative participants in line with the terms and standards arising from the Treaty of Lisbon. The lack of a clear quality assurance strategy pushes the university away from the European Zone of Higher Education and Research. Among the most important stakeholders to design and implement this strategy are the managers of all university levels. For this delicate task to take root, lawmaking institutions and universities must change the mentality and the concept of university management. The chief stakeholder of this concept should be the Rector, assuming major managerial roles and responsibilities, unlike until now being mainly an academic Rector. Therefore, the mission of the Kosovo of Knowledge and the role of the public universities are warranted only through the transformation and harmonization of the domestic legal framework with the international one and the enhancing managerial competences for the university leadership. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2015.v4n2s1p187

Highlights

Education is considered an important factor of sustainable development of human resources, economic welfare, for the preservation of peace and security, development of universal values and improvement of quality of life at the individual, family, social and global level
If the success of a business organization depends on its manager, why is the success of a university not dependent on the management skills of rector of an educational institution? How is it possible for the management of a business organization or a company, which is involved in the provision of goods or services, engage well prepared experts in theory and in practice, whereas for the management of a university institution, which has to do with building mental, emotional and psycho-physical human capacities, engage professors who are not prepared with skills to manage the institution
The first step in this process is to ask questions like what kind of university we want to become in the long run? What kind and quality of university do we want? How can we provide reliable data about how good our university is? All of these need an assessment and analysis of the current situation in order to identify the desired improvements in the institution

Summary

Introduction

Education is considered an important factor of sustainable development of human resources, economic welfare, for the preservation of peace and security, development of universal values and improvement of quality of life at the individual, family, social and global level. How is it possible for the management of a business organization or a company, which is involved in the provision of goods or services, engage well prepared experts in theory and in practice, whereas for the management of a university institution, which has to do with building mental, emotional and psycho-physical human capacities, engage professors who are not prepared with skills to manage the institution In this regard the main proof for the consequences is the poor results and, the level of education and the practical skills of people who complete education in educational institutions in Kosovo is relatively very low, with an exception of individual cases. The European Organization on Quality (EOQC) has adopted a general definition of quality: "Quality is the degree to which the product meets needs of users - consumers", and with respect to the quality of the learning process, it is the ability of a university, of professors, administration and services staff - to meet the needs of students.( European Organization for Quality (EOQC) - http://www.eoq.org/about_eoq/eoq_charter_mission_vision.html)

The Role of the Rectorate in Ensuring and Managing Quality

Standards for Quality Management and Leadership in Universities

Legislative Strategy for the Managing Rector’s Competence

Conclusions