Perceived Benefits of Quality Assurance as Predictors of Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Quality assurance (QA) has become an essential strategy for strengthening institutional performance and promoting continuous improvement in higher education. Despite the widespread adoption of QA systems, empirical evidence remains limited regarding how stakeholders' perceptions of QA benefits contribute to the development of a sustainable quality culture. This study examined stakeholders' perceived benefits of QA across the four core functions of higher education—instruction, research, extension, and production—and investigated their influence on institutional quality culture within a Philippine state university. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was employed, integrating survey responses from 210 stakeholders, including students, faculty members, administrative personnel, and external partners, with qualitative data obtained through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, and multiple regression analysis, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis to enrich and explain the quantitative findings. The results indicated consistently high levels of perceived QA benefits across stakeholder groups and institutional functions, reflecting broad recognition of QA as a mechanism for enhancing institutional effectiveness. Although perceptions of QA benefits were generally consistent across demographic characteristics, significant differences were observed among stakeholder groups in their assessments of institutional functions and quality culture. Regression analysis further revealed that perceived QA benefits significantly predicted institutional quality culture, accounting for 42.7% of its variance. Qualitative findings highlighted that QA strengthens educational quality, organizational learning, stakeholder confidence, and evidence-informed decision-making, while resource limitations, insufficient capacity-building, and communication challenges continue to constrain effective implementation. These findings demonstrate that stakeholders' perceived benefits constitute an important pathway through which QA fosters a strong quality culture. The study extends the current understanding of QA by providing empirical evidence that institutional efforts to communicate and reinforce the tangible value of QA may enhance stakeholder engagement and support the long-term sustainability of quality culture in higher education.