Quality Assurance Models in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of International Approaches, Standards, and Practices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62486/agma2025351Keywords:
Quality Assurance, Higher Education, Accreditation, PRISM MethodAbstract
Introduction: quality assurance in education has become a central pillar in the current global context, marked by growing competitiveness and high expectations in the labor market.
Objective: the purpose of this research is to analyze the main models of educational quality assurance, exploring their implementation in various geographical contexts in order to promote higher educational standards.
Method: a systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Studies on educational quality, assurance models, accreditation standards, and best practices in universities published in English or Spanish were selected. A total of 67 documents were retrieved, and after screening and applying exclusion criteria, 17 were included in the study. Exclusion was carried out in three phases: poorly indexed studies, studies without full access, and those irrelevant to the central topic.
Results: the analysis of 17 studies shows marked geographical diversity, focusing primarily on Indonesia and Bulgaria (three studies each). ESG standards and ISO 9001:2015 are the most widely used. Self-assessment is the predominant assessment method (four studies), followed by interviews and observation.
Conclusion: the study highlights the importance of adapting assurance approaches to local specificities, recognizing geographical and methodological diversity as key factors. This paper invites reflection on current assurance models, advocating for flexible and adaptive approaches that foster continuous and sustainable improvement in educational quality.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ezequiel Martínez-Rojas, Alberto Martínez-Quezada, Cristian Zahn-Muñoz (Author)
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