Quality Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Nigeria Source

Abstract

The major purpose of this paper is to examine the theoretical framework for quality higher education in Nigeria and identify the parameters which play a very good role towards achieving quality assurance. These parameters include curriculum and institutional design strategy, continuous improvement of higher education quality, self assessment model, quality teaching and learning, linkages between teaching and outcome based education and some challenges for university teachers in achieving quality higher education in Nigeria. The major findings of this paper were that many universities give emphasis to recognition of scholarly teaching in the form of rewards and in promotion decisions. Teaching quality is simply counted as years of service irrespective of its quality. It was also observed that self assessment of academic staff has not been carried out frequently. Lack of coordinated and collaborative university wise approach affects quality of teaching programmes in Nigerian universities. It was recommended that assurance of quality inputs as it relates to faculty members, students and curriculum content to reflect national and international standards, education reforms is needed with emphasis placed on global education system, universities in Nigeria should encourage the linkage of teaching and research to enhance quality of teaching and learning. Finally, universities should not rely on government for funding of their programmes, instead they should explore funding from industries and philanthropists.