The UNESCO Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP-UNESCO), in collaboration with the International Association of Universities (IAU), has just published Quality Management in higher education: Developments and drivers. This publication fills a knowledge gap on the state of quality management in higher education institutions. The Authors, Michaela Martin and Shreya Parikh, draw on the responses of over 300 institutions worldwide to map recent developments, drivers, and obstacles in quality management today. As the first truly global survey of its kind, it provides first-hand primary data on this salient issue in higher education reform.

Decision-makers in higher education are increasingly seeking models for state-of-the-art quality management systems, which can help pave the way to improved academic quality and graduate employability. This publication explains the dynamics of quality management, including its various actors, structures, tools, and much more, from a global perspective. Its wealth of insight aims at supporting the implementation of policies enabling higher education to act as a driver for socioeconomic progress and overall sustainable development.

This publication is part of a larger international IIEP research project helping countries develop stronger capacities for more effective quality assurance. It follows the publication of eight case studies from universities with innovative practices who share in great detail the evolution and impact of their quality management systems.

The publication i available in print, and online on the IIEP-UNESCO website.