Exploring ISO Standardization as a Quality Assurance Mechanism in Sri Lankan Higher Educational Sector

Abstract

Higher education is the critical economic sector that has eventually been followed by all other major economic sectors such as financial services, healthcare, telecommunication, aviation, transportation etc. Today, higher educational institutions all over the world operate in a fast-dynamic environment with high competition for reputation, talent acquisition, and student attraction. Following the basis of that high competition is leading to a significant focus on quality. It is not easy to define the quality in terms of higher education since the complex relationships of higher education to students and the different roles of a student in the higher education process. Addressing the issue, International Organization for Standards (ISO) has recently published a new quality framework for higher educational institutions; ISO 21001:2018 EOMS and most of the institutions adopted ISO 9001 standard series until the publication of the new ISO standard for higher education. This study employs an evidence-based approach and critically evaluates the existing literature on ISO QMS implementation in higher education institutions in different countries with the intention of elaborating on the necessity of adopting it in the Sri Lankan context. Further, it attempts to summarize the key benefit, challenges, and critical success factors of ISO implementation with reference to Sri Lanka. According to the findings, the key benefits of ISO adoption to higher education institutions are cost reduction, consistent customer satisfaction, risk management, international recognition, adopting rapid changes, attracting grants/ funds, and strengthening international linkages and relationships. In addition, the challenges and critical success factors are also elaborated for easy implication.