European Journal of Education Studies ISSN: 2501 - 1111 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1111 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │ Issue 5 │ 2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.495792 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION MECHANISMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: POLICY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN BANGLADESH Gazi Md. Nazrul Islam1, Md. Isahaque Ali2i, Md. Zohurul Islam3 Assistant Professor of Accounting, Program Officer (Innovation), Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project, Ministry of Education, Bangladesh 2Assistant Professor of Social Welfare, Department of Social Work, Dhamrai Government College, Dhamrai, Dhaka, Affiliated with the National University of Bangladesh Dhaka, Bangladesh 3PhD, Associate Professor (Adjunct), AIBA, Savar, Deputy Director (Research)/Faculty Member, BPATC, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Academic Coordinator (Former), BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh 1 Abstract: The Purposes of this study are to explore the existing quality status and analyze the gaps between existing practices and formal quality assurance and accreditation (QAA) systems, and to assess and tap the institutional learning and challenges of introducing QAA mechanism in Bangladesh. However, the intention is to explore the preparedness to introduce formal QAA mechanism and their implications on the institutional performance in the context of Bangladeshi Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The Mix method approach is applied here, where the primary data are collected from the university faculty members in order to determine the perceptions towards quality improvement initiatives in HEIs. The study revealed that HEIs in Bangladesh face a number of challenges in terms of formal quality assurance practices. The key variables brought from formal QA framework fell into six quality areas: leadership and Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 278 Gazi Md. Nazrul Islam, Md. Isahaque Ali, Md. Zohurul Islam QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION MECHANISMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: POLICY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN BANGLADESH institutional governance, curriculum, facilities, student, staff, and quality assurance process development. The study suggests that the main challenge lies with quality assurance process development to introduce formal QAA in HEIs. Existing quality status from this study shows that quality areas of student, curriculum and facilities remain above the average level of standard, but the quality areas of leadership and institutional governance, staff and quality assurance process development are below the average conditions. The findings would assist academicians to enhance quality assurance framework at national level as well as institutional level. However, the challenges the individual higher education institution would encounter to implement the formal QAA mechanism are addressed at length. Keywords: quality education; accreditation; higher education; quality assurance; higher education institutions; Bangladesh For downloading the full article, please access the following link: http://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/view/658 European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 5 │ 2017 279