Quality Assurance System as a University Education Policy Tool in Nigeria: International Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The study adopted an exploratory discussion to analyse and compare quality assurance system in Nigerian universities and other European countries specifically the United Kingdom. Quality assurance is a typical case of a policy zone where there is notable global convergence within a couple of decades. The quality assurance system in Nigeria was first adopted in 1974 by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as a parastatal in the Federal Ministry of Education. Since then, it has experienced some changes such as empowering the NUC to lay down Minimum Academic Standard (MAS) and approving academic programmes for Nigerian universities. The study found that the Nigerian quality assurance system began with the regulation of its higher education system by the University of London. Although, overtime, growing differences between the Nigerian Quality Assurance and the United Kingdom Models and some other European Higher Education Areas had become evident. That was largely due to high incidences of underfunding, infrastructural decay, declining students, examination malpractices and industrial crises, all of which threatened the quality of education. This paper also pointed out that leading universities in the world held the highest amount of funds either as income or endowments. Thus, it concluded that adequate funding was necessary for the university system, if quality was to be assured.