The Use of Information Technology in New Zealand Universities' External Quality Assurance Processes: Case Studies of Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The case studies in this paper illustrate how the use of information technology (IT) can present both opportunities and challenges in external quality assurance (QA). External QA agencies around the world are responding in different ways to the advantages provided by, and the challenges associated with, the use of IT. Responding to stakeholder expectations of more IT-centric processes, the Academic Quality Assurance Agency for New Zealand Universities (AQA) and the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) have been focussing on ways in which IT can be used to streamline processes that have been in place in New Zealand for nearly 20 years. This paper will provide an overview of some of AQA and CUAP's developments to date. Issues explored include: working cooperatively with institutions and individuals that have their own systems and preferences; the shift to BYOD environments; interactions between different communication media; and the challenges of working with dynamic repositories.