Reflections on the effectiveness of four cycles of external quality audits in New Zealand universities

Abstract: External quality assurance in New Zealand’s eight universities is carried out by Universities New Zealand (programme approval and accreditation) and by the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit, Te Wāhanga Tātari (NZUAAU) (academic audit). While NZUAAU was established and is funded by the universities collectively, it is operationally independent. NZUAAU has a dual mission of quality assurance and quality enhancement. This chapter outlines the quality assurance role, given effect by academic audit, and reflects on the impact of four cycles of academic audit. An examination of audit reports indicates a considerable enhancement of universities’ internal quality assurance systems and processes since 1995, with activities which once were marginal now seen as embedded within institutional practice. Particularly noteworthy have been improvements in the attention paid to the quality of teaching and to the support of Maori and Pacific students, who have traditionally been under-represented in higher education in New Zealand. The chapter concludes with reflections on the future challenges for quality assurance in New Zealand universities.