An exploration of the effects of Internal Quality Assurance Practices on Academic Work: A Case of Two Universities in Uganda

Charles Eryenyu – Bustema University
Proscovia Namubiru Ssentamu – Uganda Management Institute
Lazarus Nabaho – Uganda Management Institute
Email: eryenyuc@gmail.com, ceryenyu.sci@busitema.ac.ug

Abstract: This paper examined the extent to which internal quality assurance (IQA) practices are contributing to the enhancement of academic work. The study adopted a concurrent mixed-methods design. Data was collected using survey questionnaires and key informant interviews from a total of 321 respondents selected using stratified random sampling from two universities. The principle of reciprocal determinism underpinned the conceptualization of the research variables, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The Pearson regression analysis of the data showed that IQA practices could enhance teaching and learning by 12.6% and research by about 15.9%. However, a one-sample difference in the mean t-test confirmed the null hypothesis that the current IQA practices have no significant effect on university-community engagement. We, therefore, concluded that IQA practices have provided an operational framework that facilitates the academic staff to teach and do research while community engagement and other areas of university operations receive little attention. The more IQA practices reciprocate with the working lives of academic staff, the more such practices are seen to enhance academic processes. Therefore, universities need to widen the scope of the current IQA practices in practical terms through inter-departmental cooperation towards a holistic quality agenda.