Abstract:

Education is the cornerstone and the most viable tool for sustainable development. The quality of this education has become one of the central issues in the recent educational reform whilst quality assurance has turned to be one of the mechanisms used in achieving it. The quest for improved quality has developed momentum over the past years and this has increased the demand for better performance of higher education institutions, enrolment pressures, governance, sustainability, quality of teachers/academics, conducive learning environment, inclusiveness access, equity and equality, curriculum and excellence teaching which is the quality of being outstanding. Hence, this paper examines how holistic quality education ecosystem is viewed, implemented, practised in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The paper discusses current initiatives made by National University Commission (NUC) to address quality assurance practices (systems, policy and strategy) offered in Nigeria. However, the paper examines the antecedents and benefits of the growing demands for improved quality education ecosystem and employability of graduates in Nigeria and across the globe. The study adopts cross-sectional approach and descriptive research design to establish trends related to the objectives of this study. Quantitative approach was employed using a modified survey questionnaire in sampling purposively selected public (state) Universities in Nigeria. The use measurement model and structural equation modelling (SEM) were adopted using PLS_3 to establish fitness and degree of association. The study will conclude by providing a quite detailed analysis of the assumptions underpinning holistic quality education ecosystem in Nigeria’s universities and also putting forth viable and pragmatic recommendations.