Thesis
Quality issues and challenges : a study of the private education institutes in Singapore
Southern Cross university
Southern Cross University
2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25918/thesis.92
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Abstract
This research explores the understanding of quality among private education institutes (PEIs) in Singapore, including the nature of mutual understanding of quality assurance (QA) among PEIs and the Council for Private Education (CPE). It examines the challenges and issues faced by PEIs in establishing quality standards and the quality measures that the Singaporean government has introduced to help improve the private education sector.
QA mechanisms of several countries, including Australia, the US and Sweden, are discussed as a background to understanding the QA framework implemented in Singapore. There is a paucity of studies on what Singaporean PEIs understand as ‘quality’ given their profit-seeking purpose; this is the reason for this research.
The research uses in-depth semi-structured interviews. In total, 52 interviews from 25 institutions were conducted, transcribed and analysed for commonalities. Using a qualitative methodology framework, the primary data were collected and analysed, and supported by an examination of secondary data, such as policy documents.
The findings demonstrate that PEI staff share a common understanding of quality in relation to five factors commonly found in marketing models – people, price, place, product and profit – whereas CPE’s notion of quality appears to be focused mainly on academic quality. The study also reveals that there are disparities in standards between the PEIs; that is, although there are commonalities in the findings, quality is perceived slightly differently by different PEIs. A practical implication of this study is that CPE as an overseeing body and the PEIs might develop a better understanding of one another’s concerns and thus work towards building the PEIs into a more sustainable source of revenue for Singapore.
Details
- Title
- Quality issues and challenges : a study of the private education institutes in Singapore
- Creators
- Ritu Manchanda
- Contributors
- Jennifer L Harrison (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; DBA
- Theses
- Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross university
- Number of pages
- xiii, 192
- Identifiers
- 991012903700502368
- Copyright
- © R Manchanda 2020
- Academic Unit
- School of Business and Tourism; Management; Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Resource Type
- Thesis