Students' perceptions of 'purpose' and 'quality' in higher education

Abstract

This research project will present and discuss some of the perceptions of a group of 58 undergraduate students from the University of Malta, with regards to the notions of 'purpose' and 'quality' of higher education. I started developing an interest In 'quality' while enrolled in University reading for my undergraduate degree in education between 2002 and 2006. At the time I was actively involved in the reinstatement and administration of the University Student Teacher /Association (USTA), was elected as Education Commissioner on the University Students' Council (KSU) and later served as student representative on the University's Senate. At that time, the signing of the Bologna Declaration and the initiation of the Lisbon Agenda were continuously referred to, both by University administrators and by politicians. These two European inter-governmental processes, particularly the former, initiated the institutionalization of Quality Assurance in academia (Kauko, 2006). The Maltese Education Minister at the time, the Hon. Dr. Louis Galea, along with thirty other European Ministers of Education, or their delegates, committed themselves to establishing the European Higher Education Area by 2010 (Bologna Declaration, 1999). Among other things, this Declaration encourages European co-operation in quality assurance of higher education with a view to developing comparable criteria to help in the materialisation of the EHEA (Bologna Declaration, 1999).