A Comparative Analysis of International and Indonesian Quality Assurance Assessments: Review of Elementary Education Study Program

Abstract

Quality assurance is an essential issue in higher education, therefore Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS) and LAMDIK as independent quality assurance institutions in Indonesia are present as widely-known quality assurance institutions in Indonesia with differences between standards or criteria on the instruments of the two institutions. This study is based on a research question about how much similarity the assessment variables of the two quality assurance institutions. Hence, this research aims to comparatively analyze the instrument of the two institutions, to figure out which standards or criteria are the focus of the assessment, as well as to analyze the follow-up for the assessment for further study. The data source used was the assessment criteria of the two institutions therefore the methodology was multi-layered research consisting of narrative content analysis followed by statistical analysis, final expert recommendation review, and expert interviews which produce a comparative description. One of clear findings of this study was that AQAS use top-down model hierarchically, starting from the university, faculty, or school, and then to the study program being assessed. Statistical analysis used was fuzzy classifications such as 0, 0.25, 0.50001, 0.75, and 1 which were interpreted as fully out, more out than in, neither fully in nor fully out, more than out, and fully in. The similarity of standards or assessment criteria between the two institutions was shown by PRI from the results of the analysis using the fs-QCA application which pointed out at 0.66667 or close to 67% exceeding 0.5 which was a significant level of inconsistency. The inconsistency value occurred because there are several differences in AQAS standards and assessment criteria at LAMDIK which are influenced by education policies in Indonesia such as the tri dharma policy of higher education that requires community service.