ABSTRACT
The concept of quality and the concern for assuring and enhancing it was developed in the business sector in the West, where commercial success depends on it. The need to maximise profit in a competitive environment requires that costs are reduced and sales increased. An important way to increase sales is to have a product or service that is in demand and of high quality at an affordable price. The effectiveness of the quality management system should be assessed internally and externally on a regular basis, with the audit on both the quality processes and the quality and standards achieved. Whatever approach is adopted for implementing quality assurance in a university, the chances of success will be improved if the institution operates as a learning organisation with a commitment to continuous quality improvement. The instrumental approach to quality assurance system is used widely in universities in developed countries, though there are significant differences in the implementation.
