Research article | Open Access
International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications 2025, Vol. 16(2) 64-78
pp. 64 - 78
Publish Date: December 31, 2025 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
Student participation in quality assurance (QA) and accreditation processes is crucial for higher education institutions (HEIs); however, existing research on this topic remains limited, indicating a need for more comprehensive investigations. This study purposes to explore students' opinions, expectations, and recommendations regarding QA and accreditation processes. This study employed a phenomenological approach. A total of 11 student representatives, who are members of the Student Quality Commission (SQC), participated in the study. Data collection was conducted through interviews. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. Students’ definitions of QA and accreditation processes in higher education (HE) aligned with the literature. The findings indicate that students conceptualize quality assurance and accreditation processes in higher education as a stakeholder-based planning, monitoring, and continuous improvement process aimed at enhancing institutional capacity. The results further reveal that students assume three primary roles within these processes, namely the user role, the feedback role, and the decision-making role. In addition, student participation in related activities is shown to have a positive impact on academic performance, peer relationships, and future professional careers. Students also offered constructive recommendations for strengthening and expanding participation in quality-related studies.
Keywords: Accreditation, Quality, Quality Assurance, Student Participation, Higher Education.
APA 7th edition
CALISKAN, G., & MAYA, I. (2025). Student Participation in Quality Assurance and Accreditation Processes in Higher Education: Assessing Students’ Perspectives. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, 16(2), 64-78.
Harvard
CALISKAN, G. and MAYA, I. (2025). Student Participation in Quality Assurance and Accreditation Processes in Higher Education: Assessing Students’ Perspectives. International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications, 16(2), pp. 64-78.
Chicago 16th edition
CALISKAN, Gokhan and Ilknur MAYA (2025). "Student Participation in Quality Assurance and Accreditation Processes in Higher Education: Assessing Students’ Perspectives". International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications 16 (2):64-78.
Abouammoh, B. (2025). Accreditation and quality assurance in traditional and non-traditional education: Challenges, perspectives, and future directions. M. Kayyali (Ed.), Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education (pp.75-100). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6915-9.ch004
Alhamad, B. (2023). Quality assurance breaking down barriers with external stakeholders: An investigation of current and potential roles of stakeholders. S. T. Saeed and K. H. Sherwani (Eds.), Quality assurance in higher education in the Middle East: Practices and perspectives (pp.19-48). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120230000054002
Altıngüzgün, H. G. K., & Coşgun, D. M. (2020). Peyzaj mimarlığı öğretim programlarının kalite ve akreditasyon süreçlerine öğrenci katılımı. PEYZAJ, Special Issue, 1-9.
Anandakrishnan, M. (2007). Imperatives of student involvement in quality enhancement. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.1-3). National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Banaszak, B. (2015). Student engagement in higher education policy making: A view from the Polish representative in the Bologna Follow‑Up Group. M. Klemenčič, S. Bergan and R. Primožič (Eds.), Student engagement in Europe: Society, higher education and student governance (pp.283-290). Council of Europe.
Başkale, H. (2016). Nitel araştırmalarda geçerlik, güvenirlik ve örneklem büyüklüğünün belirlenmesi. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi, 9(1), 23-28.
Blair, E. & Valdez Noel, K. (2014). Improving higher education practice through student evaluation systems: Is the student voice being heard?. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 39(7), 879–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2013.875984
Bohlens, C. (2025). Enhancing Quality Assurance Through Active Student Participation in Accreditation Processes. M. Kayyali (Ed.), Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education (pp.247-272). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6915-9.ch010
Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2007). Research Methods in Education (6th. ed.). Routledge.
Dawood, S. S. (2007). Student participation in quality enhancement-tools for student empowerment. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.134-139). National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Eaton, J. S. (2021). The role of quality assurance and the values of higher education. H. V. Land, A. Corcoran and D.C. Iancu (Eds.), The Promise of Higher Education: Essays in Honour of 70 Years of IAU (pp.181-186), Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67245-4_28
Elassy, N. (2013). A model of student involvement in the quality assurance system at institutional level. Quality Assurance in Education, 21(2), 162-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/09684881311310692
Erdal, S., & Aydın, H. (2025). Üniversite öğrencilerinin akreditasyon algılarının ölçülmesi ve okur-yazarlık eğitiminin planlanması. Kalite ve Strateji Yönetimi Dergisi, 5(1), 1-32. https://doi.org/10.56682/ksydergi.1445058
Grayson, K., & Grayson, J. P. (2024). University quality, British league tables and student stakeholders. Quality in Higher Education, 30(2), 257-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2023.2235732
Gvaramadze, I. (2011). Student engagement in the Scottish quality enhancement framework. Quality in Higher Education, 17(1), 19-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2011.554310
Harrison, R., Meyer, L., Rawstorne, P., Razee, H., Chitkara, U., Mears, S., & Balasooriya, C. (2020). Evaluating and enhancing quality in higher education teaching practice: A meta-review. Studies in Higher Education, 47(1), 80-96. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1730315
Iqbal, S., Taib, C. A. B., & Razalli, M. R. (2024). The effect of accreditation on higher education performance through quality culture mediation: the perceptions of administrative and quality managers. The TQM Journal, 36(2), 572-592. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-11-2022-0322
Isaeva, R., Eisenschmidt, E., Vanari, K., & Kumpas-Lenk, K. (2020). Students’ views on dialogue: improving student engagement in the quality assurance process, Quality in Higher Education, 26(1), 80-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2020.1729307
Jafarov, S. (2024). Accreditation and quality assurance in world-leading universities. International Journal of Current Science Research and Review, 7(12), 9357-9365. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/V7-i12-77
Kayyali, M. (2023a). An overview of quality assurance in higher education: Concepts and frameworks. International Journal of Management, Sciences, Innovation, and Technology, 4(2), 01-04.
Kayyali, M. (2023b). Importance of rankings in academia. International Journal of Management, Sciences, Innovation, and Technology, 4(1), 01- 03.
Kayyali, M. (2025). The Evolution of Quality Assurance in Higher Education: Models, Systems, and Frameworks. M. Kayyali (Ed.), Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education (pp.1-26). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6915-9.ch001
Klemenčič, M. (2015). What is student agency? An ontological exploration in the context of research on student engagement. M. Klemenčič, S. Bergan and R. Primožič (Eds.), Student engagement in Europe: Society, higher education and student governance (pp.11-30). Council of Europe.
Kumar, P., Shukla, B., & Passey, D. (2020). Impact of accreditation on quality and excellence of higher education institutions. Revista Investigacion Operacional, 41(2), 151-167.
Lan, M. T. Q. (2007). Student evaluation at Vietnam National University-Hanoi. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.67-71), National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Leisyte, L., & Westerheijden, D. F. (2014). Stakeholders and quality assurance in higher education. H. Eggins (Ed.), Drivers and barriers to achieving quality in higher education (pp.83-97). SensePublishers.
Little, B., & Williams, R. (2010). Students' roles in maintaining quality and in enhancing learning: is there a tension?. Quality in Higher Education, 16(2), 115-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2010.485740
Marrouchi, M., & Haroon, H. (2025). Factors Influencing Quality Assurance and Accreditation Systems in Higher Education. M. Kayyali (Ed.), Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education (pp.375-392). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6915-9.ch015
Mazza, T., & Azzali, S. (2025). Stakeholders’ involvement in economics and management programs quality assurance. Quality Assurance in Education, 33(1), 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-11-2023-0193
Miles, M. B. & Huberman, M. A. (1994). An expanded sourcebook qualitative data analysis. Sage Pub.
Mulimani, M., & Naikar, S. (2024). The role and significance of accreditation in higher education institutions: A study. B. Holland and K. Sinha (Eds.), Multidisciplinary approach to information technology in library and information science (pp.210-230). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-2841-5.ch012
Okpa, O. E., Odigwe, F. N., Emeribe, K. V., & Obule, E. V. (2020). Students' participation in quality assurance management and tertiary ınstitutions effectiveness in Nigeria. International Education Studies, 13(12), 41-47. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v13n12p41
Özenç, Y. Y. (2024). Yükseköğretimde kalite. Journal of University Research, 7(4), 498-509. https://doi.org/10.32329/uad.1538784
Patil, J. (2007). Mapping student participation in India and Asia-Pacific Quality Network. Student Participation In Quality Enhancement. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.72-81), National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Shakuntala, K. (2007). Student participation in quality enhancement-students' perspective. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.34-41). National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Stensaker, B., & Matear, S. (2025). Student involvement in quality assurance: Perspectives and practices towards persistent partnerships. Quality in Higher Education, 31(1), 8-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2024.2346358
Subbarayalu, A. V., & Kamalasanan, A. (2025). Navigating Academic Program Accreditation: Key Insights and Strategies for Achieving Excellence in Saudi Universities. M. Kayyali (Ed.), Navigating Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Global Higher Education (pp. 27-48). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-6915-9.ch002
Şahin, Ç. (2020). Verilerin analizi. R. Y. Kıncal, (Ed.), Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (pp.125-182). Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
Uludağ, G., Bora, M., & Çatal, S. (2021). Türk yükseköğretiminde kalite güvencesi sistemi ve öğrenci katılımının önemi. Kalite ve Strateji Yönetimi Dergisi, 1(1), 91-111.
Verma, Y. (2007). Teachers perceptions about ensuring students participation ın enhancing quality ın higher education. V. S. Prasad and J. Patil (Eds.), International perspectives on student participation in quality enhancement (pp.19-33). National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Yeşil, R. (2020). Nicel ve nitel araştırma yöntemleri. R. Y. Kıncal (Ed.), Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (pp. 51-98). Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
Yıldırım A., & Şimşek H. (2018). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Yıldız, A., Çetiner, E. A., Çetiner, Y., & Çalışkan, A. (2024). Eğitim yönetiminde kalite güvencesi ve akreditasyon süreçleri. International QMX Journal, 3(2), 634-639. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10725647