Assessing the quality of higher education in the United Kingdom: Librarianship and information management as a case-study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cochrane, Clive^{; *}

Affiliations: School of Management & Economics, Queen's University of Belfast, UK

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: School of Management & Economics, 25–26 University Square, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK. Tel.: +44 28 90 973203; Fax +44 28 90 975156; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Provides a chronological account of the processes employed to assess the quality of Librarianship and Information Management (LIM) education in the Wales, England and Scotland between 1994 and 2002. Explains the three methodologies implemented to assess quality. Highlights firstly, how the diversity of the UK impacts on the implementation of government policy and secondly, how the diversity of LIM education in the UK makes comparison between schools difficult. Analyses reports published by government agencies indicating that overall the quality of LIM education was judged to be of a good standard at the time of review. Comments on the extent to which there is link between teaching and research quality in the field. Notes that quality assurance is undertaken in other countries and that the UK approach is just one example. Suggests that the review process provides stakeholders with an overview of the quality of LIM education from an academic rather than a professional perspective. Concludes that the subject-based approach is unlikely to be repeated, but by focusing on institutional audit the government will ensure that the universities embed quality assurance mechanisms into organisational culture.

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-2004-223-402

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 22, no. 3-4, pp. 163-185, 2004