L’assurance qualité : un outil de régulation du marché de la formation supérieure et de gestion des universitaires

Abstract

The introduction of quality assurance in the French higher education system has been one of the most decisive transformation taking place in the University since 1998. It has been introduced and supported by agents that are involved, at different levels, in the construction of a so-called European higher education market. As a consequence of quality assurance certification rules, peer control, which used to be the common and independent regulation mode of higher education, is now replaced by an external regulation mode. So, new constraints are now ruling the organization principles of the University that previously remained aloof from economic interests.In this paper, we first highlight the links between quality assurance, supported by European Community authorities, and the economic stakes arising from the construction of a European higher education market. We then detail the actual set-ups of the quality assurance in the French higher education system. Finally, we observe how the construction of the European higher education market both requires the subordination of academic practices to economic stakes but also meets the personal interests of some of them.

Keywords

• Higher education
• Europe
• Regulatory Frameworks
• Economic Stakes
• Quality assurance