Quality Assurance Training: Culture or Calamity

Abstract

Pandemics of quality normally call for building a quality culture that ensures quality to be successful. Buildingquality culture, though a key factor of successful quality practices, should be an inherent predisposition of academics, rather than acquired quality culture through training. A key research question is whether training isrelated to a culture that pertains to quality and performance . This paper studies the assessors‘ training in quality assessment, perceived improvements in two main dimensions of knowledge, use of quality system, and theknowledge and skills enhancement in relation to human, system and cultural factors. Participants were given writtenpost-training assignments. Results of the perceived improvements were significant but the written assignmentsshowed otherwise. Based on the results, this paper provides an in-depth discussion of factors that can affect qualitytraining in relation to human, system and cultural factors. Results obtained will be used to develop a set of recommendations based on time, environment, interest, motivations, culture and mindset domains which are keyfactors that affect the culture of quality improvements and training.