Quality Assurance Practices and Institutional Performance in Higher Education Institutions: The Role of Strategic Leadership and Organizational Culture

Activities related to the quality assurance (QA) have become an indispensable element in the improvement of higher education (HE) effectiveness and competitiveness. Although significant investments have been made in quality assurance systems it is still under study how much these practices can contribute to an institutions performance. Hence, the focus of this study is on how the quality assurance (QA) practices affect institutional performance in higher education institutions, focusing on the strategic leadership and organizational culture dimensions. A Quantitative approach that includes cross sectional survey design was used. The subjects were faculty members, academic administration and Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) staff of public sector Universities of Saudi Arabia. Stratified random sampling method was used to select a sample of 400 for the study. A structured questionnaires designed and based on validated instruments were used to collect data on the practice of quality assurance, strategic leadership, organizational culture and institutional performance. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Smart PLS was used as an analysis method for the data collected. The results showed that the quality assurance practices had a significant positive effect on institutional performance. The findings also suggested that strategic leadership has a huge role in strengthening the relationship between quality assurance practices and the institutions' performances by enabling the effective implementation of the quality initiatives. Furthermore, it was discovered that the practices of quality assurance are significantly affected by organizational culture, thus creating an environment conducive to continuous improvement and institutional excellence. The scope of the study is an addition to existing literature on higher education management, offering empirical insights on the significance of quality dealing with, strategic management and organizational culture for better higher education management. The results hold implications for settings such as university administrations, university policymakers and quality assurance practitioners wishing to improve institutional effectiveness, sustainability, academic excellence, and enabling strategic quality management practices.