Towards quality assurance of the study process using the multi-criteria decision-making method

Abstract

The article explores in detail higher education studies that appear as one of the essential university processes. University studies are not a new phenomenon; however, they are overwhelmed by the volume of information surrounded by a wide range of diverse stakeholders. Therefore, the university inevitably needs changes in the adequate fulfillment of its mission thus meeting and harmonizing the expectations of different stakeholders of modern society and the state. Therefore, the concept and role of the study process itself in society are changing. The studies considered to be timely and qualitative are becoming a more and more relevant question to universities. Based on the previous scientific analysis of the study process at the university level and a concept of Quality Assurance for university studies formulated by the Bologna Process, the article examines the relationships and importance of the components (criteria) composing the study process at the university level. The article is aimed at revealing the diversity of the study process and at evaluating the importance and significance of the criteria composing it. To achieve this goal, the multi-criteria decision-making method the Analytical Hierarchy Process were invoked. The representatives of two major Lithuanian universities participated in the carried out research the results of which demonstrated that the criteria of the study process were fundamentally different, and some of those were difficult to measure applying quantitative parameters. Despite this circumstance, giving more attention to a combination of criteria for a particular process of university studies creates conditions for purposeful modeling the study process and the pursuit of high-quality university studies.