Approach to Improve the Quality Performance of Libyan Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The desire to measure and improve the quality performance of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) has increased rapidly in recent times. This is due to many factors, include the needs of leaders and administrators to know the performance of their institutions and compare them with the excellent counterpart institutions (Benchmarking) from which to know aspects of the strengths and weaknesses in such performance, consequently, the use of outcomes to improve the quality of  provided operations.  Also, need to know whether the leadership of HEIs had used their available resources and facilities effectively through the exploitation of the responsibilities and powers granted, to afford  high quality level of operations and activities. In addition, provide high quality performance by HEIs helps in reducing the pressure that would be encountered these institutions from stakeholders, mainly students, parents, employers, the State, e.g. Libyan state as a key employer of HEIs' graduates. Moreover, the international dimension of higher education encompasses another factor that increases the desire of HEIs to raise their level of quality performance due to the new patterns and models of institutions that have been created and developed by the revolution of information technology. As a result, those new institutions require multiple skills and abilities that should be possessed by graduates such as, communication skills, decision making, teamwork, leadership skills, effective response and adapt to changes.

The aim of this research is  to provide a general approach that would  be contribute to improve  the quality performance of  Libyan  HEIs. The aim is accomplished through examining the quality performance of these institutions, and identifying the key hinder factors affecting such performance.  Furthermore, study of a number of quality models and approaches that have been developed and adopted by excellent HEIs in order to identify the main factors that successfully contributed in improving those institutions' performance. Therefore, analyse the outcomes obtained both from the Libyan and global educational environments, and the extent of relationship with a link, or contrast with the overall variables taking in to consideration the privacy and circumstances of the Libyan educational environment,  and how to develop a general approach  that  contribute to improve the quality performance of Libyan HEIs.

This research adopts descriptive analytical approach as a research methodology, where the characteristics of the nature phenomenon are identified and described, and extent of the relationship between the variables that affect it, as well as analysis and interpretation of these variables and faces of their interrelationship or (and) contrast. Finally, conclude the outcomes  which reflect the aspects of reality and the environment studied. Research will relies on the literature review, previous research, related documents, and observation.

Key Words: HEI performance - Libyan HEIs - Quality - Performance Measurement - Teaching and Learning processes