Examination of the dimensions of quality in higher education

Author: Lagrosen Stefan   Seyyed-Hashemi Roxana   Leitner Markus  

Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd

ISSN: 0968-4883

Source: Quality Assurance in Education, Vol.12, Iss.2, 2004-02, pp. : 61-69

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Abstract

In recent years, numerous studies in the field of service quality have been carried out. However, relatively few studies have addressed the specific context of higher education. The purpose of this study has been to examine what dimensions constitute quality in higher education and to compare these with the dimensions of quality that have been developed in general service quality research. The focus has been on academic business studies and a student perspective was chosen. First, 29 in-depth interviews were carried out. Based on the interviews, a questionnaire was constructed and responses were obtained from 448 Austrian and Swedish students. Using factor analysis, quality dimensions were defined. These dimensions are compared with the earlier research in the area of higher education and with the general research into service quality.