Sursock, A. Examining Quality Culture Part II: Processes and Tools – Participation, Ownership and Bureaucracy. European University Association, Brussels, 2011. ISBN: 978-9-0789-9729-0. Pages: 61.

The European University Association (EUA) presented in September 2011 a new study investigating a complicated relationship between formal procedures of quality assurance at universities and institutional quality culture. Examining Quality Culture Part II: Processes and Tools – Participation, Ownership and Bureaucracy is the second major report of a two-phase project implemented by EUA, the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the Scottish Quality Assurance Agency (QAA Scotland), with the support of the European Commission. The new study capitalises on prior project results highlighting progress made by institutions in developing internal quality mechanisms and endeavours to assess the actual implementation of the existing quality assurance provisions and their uptake by universities.

Based on 59 interviews with universities from 10 EU member states, the findings of the study highlight five conditions that eventually lead to an effective quality culture: 

• diversity of applied quality assurance instruments corresponding to institutional strategies;
• embedding of QA arrangements into internal decision-making processes and structures; 
• engagement of the university community and leadership; 
• staff development; and 
• articulation between internal and external QA processes. 

The conclusions of the study take into account different perspectives on the issue of quality culture, relying on feedback from university leadership, faculty administrations and students. The findings may be of a particular interest for staff involved in internal QA assurance processes and external evaluating bodies.

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