ABSTRACT
The terms quality and standards are often used interchangeably to refer to the value and reputation of an institution's programmes of study. The Higher Education Quality Council defined academic standards as 'explicit levels of academic attainment are used to describe and measure academic requirements and achievements of individual students and groups of students'. Quality can be measured and assured and forms the basis of programme validation, monitoring and review. 'Standards', on the other hand, are less easily defined and measured. Standards are defined within subjects by a variety of mechanisms-principally by the involvement of professional bodies, where appropriate, and by peer group evaluation. The responsibility for the award of qualifications rests with accredited institutions, but the standards of qualifications are defined by subject disciplines. Ideally higher education institutions should strive to achieve both high quality and high standards in all programmes.
