Abstract:

Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) was introduced to the Universities to ensure continuous quality improvement. However, Universities pretend that they follow guidelines and standards, but maintain a gap between the QAS and internal operations of the institution. The real picture of QAS operations in the University is hence disguised. This study explores how Universities comply with the QAS with the aim of unveiling the realities of QAS implementation. Qualitative methodology with review of literature on ‘Universities’ responses towards QAS’, semi-structured face-to-face interviews conducted with QAS experts and University stakeholders and content analysis of documents related to QAS of Sri Lankan Universities were employed in this study. Symbolic compliance, i.e. demonstration of intermittent compliance towards the QAS through symbolic structures, language and fabricated performance without integrating QAS to the culture, practices and behaviours of individuals and organizations, was identified as a common response of Universities towards the QAS. It is identified that external evaluation remarkably affect the manner Universities comply with QAS. The study provides useful insights on unearthing symbolic compliance which are significant to the policy makers, evaluators and implementers of the QAS.