Assuring quality and standards in globalised higher education

Relates higher education to the labour market, noting that the pace of change in national and international economies requires higher education to encourage the development of people who can act effectively in turbulent circumstances. Shows that quality and standards are open to interpretations which depend upon the interpreter’s perspective. Argues that the extra‐institutional scrutiny of quality and standards is appropriate where higher education is expected to respond to national needs, but that the method used needs to be adapted to institutional context. Discusses the potential that ISO 9000, or an analogue, might have for an extra‐institutional quality assurance system that is economical in operation.