THE MECHANISMS OF EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE OF UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN CHINA

External quality assurance is crucial for the quality of higher education. However, there are few studies on quality assurance procedures for higher education in China. This paper explores the main mechanisms of external quality assurance in China, especially at the institutional and program level. It includes, institution evaluation, teaching status data monitoring speciality accreditation or evaluation, and international accreditation, respectively. Qualitative methodology by document analysis is used to obtain data from various secondary sources related to the study. It has been found that all evaluations and accreditations have pros and cons in China. The government is the leading participant in external quality assurance, and the third-party evaluation agency and all other associations can’t exert too much influence on external quality assurance. The repetitive operation in external quality assurance, regardless of the program or institutional level, makes HEIs invest too much time in different external quality assurance mechanisms. Numerous HEIs and programs must be evaluated or accredited differently according to their different characteristics. This paper provides an overview of the mechanisms of EQA in China, exploring its main procedures, advantages, and drawbacks. The findings offer evidence for policy-making and practical improvements to enhance EQA mechanisms, aiming to contribute to the overall improvement of teaching quality and program standards.