A comparative study of relationship between the government and national quality assurance agencies in Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan: policy change, governance models, emerging roles

Abstract

In recent years, governmental policy changes have exerted significant impact on the structural transformation, role diversity and commercialisation of national quality assurance agencies in many nations. Due to policy change, ongoing structural trans formation and emerging roles, four national quality assurance agencies in Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan were selected as case studies. The study presents three major findings. First, although a state-controlled governance model remained pop ular in all cases, the university-led and supermarket models were chosen due to changes in policy. Second, case agencies intended to develop new roles in order to respond to policy change and public demands, particularly enhancing profession alism, redefining the relationship with universities as partners, strengthening the linkage with international quality assurance networks, providing quality assurance services with foreign providers. Third, autonomy and independence remain a con siderable challenge for quality assurance agencies.