Towards a Model of Internal Quality Assurance Evaluation in Moroccan Public Universities

Purpose- In writing this article, I have two main goals in mind: first, to set up a tentative model of how to proceed in the task of evaluating internal quality assurance (IQA) in Moroccan public universities ; second, to raise the academics awareness about this issue and hopefully take advantage of some recommendations and implications, as suggested in this paper so as to implement IQA successfully, in compliance with the Quality Standards of the National Agency for the Evaluation and QA in Higher Education. Design/methodology/approach- The study was carried out in the light of a mixed method approach (quantitative and qualitative). The qualitative approach (interviews with senior lecturers as well as document analysis) proved to be more insightful to highlight some pertinent issues in detail. The findings are decoded in the model of IQA evaluation, briefly suggested in this paper. Implications and recommendations- It will be shown that an adequate fulfilment of IQA is a daunting task, especially for the academic staff whose main responsibility is to undertake their activities regularly, as required in order to comply with the national Quality Standards and gain accountability as well as the satisfaction of the head of the institution, the NAEQA in Higher Education and international QA agencies and organizations. The proposed model constitutes a strong recommendation to be endorsed so as to improve the image of the institution and gain national and international recognition. Originality/value- The ultimate goal of this paper, which is adapted from my doctoral dissertation on the Academics’ perceptions of IQA in Moroccan public universities (2022), has been to suggest a practical design to be strictly followed in process of evaluating IQA with the central focus on the whole teaching operation. This model may inspire university teachers and raise their awareness (about the crucial importance of IQA and how to implement it in the right way. As a point of departure, the discussion begins with a short introduction, followed by a succinct presentation of the complex concepts of “Quality” and “Quality Assurance” in Higher Education (HE).