The Role of Quality Assurance Mechanism in Developing Profile of Botany Graduate in Higher Educatio

Abstract

Quality assurance mechanisms play a crucial role in higher education to generate graduates with the essential skills for future employment. Graduates in similar subjects are discriminated against in the job market due to their mismatched qualities. Many countries of the world find curriculum harmonization as a viable solution for this issue. Mismatch among the strategic measures of quality assurance mechanisms may mislead the quality improvement pathway. This study was designed to explore the alignment of the processes of quality assurance mechanism undertaken by Government of Bangladesh in higher education of Botany. Outcome based curriculum was developed as part of the processes and this study also explored the emphasis of necessary graduate attributes in Botany curriculum aimed to develop in future graduates. This study employs a qualitative multiple case study to understand the phenomenon. Four Botany Departments from four public universities in three divisions of Bangladesh were purposively sampled. In the first phase, relevant documents were analyzed, and in the second phase, interviews and FGDs of stakeholders were conducted. As instruments, the study employs document analysis frameworks, interview schedules, and FGD guidelines. Data was analyzed by means of content analysis for relevant documents and thematic analysis of collected evidences from content analysis, interviews and FGD. The analysis revealed mismatch between the procedures of the quality assurance mechanism in every selected cases. Partial reflection of situation analysis was found in the proposals for future improvement. Further, the future improvement plans exhibited partial reflection in intended curriculum. Moreover, each case emphasized knowledge differently in their curriculum in thirty-eight sub-areas of ten course-areas. In addition to that, emphasis differences for skills and values in the curriculum were observed among cases. This may result in an inconsistency in the Botany graduate profile. The research findings carry implications for knowledge, practice, policy and future research. It will benefit curriculum committees, teachers and students of Botany departments. Moreover, quality assurance committee, university administrators, policy makers, UGC, Ministry of Education and employers will be benefited. In addition, future researchers will get some insight about quality assurance mechanism, comparative view of Botany curriculum, skill development components of the curriculum and will be able to identify research gaps.