LIMITATIONS IN DATA CAPACITY FOR INTERNAL QUALITY ASSURANCE AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN CENTRAL VIETNAM: AN ANALYSIS OF ACCREDITATION RESOLUTIONS

Abstract

Data capacity plays an important role in internal quality assurance, especially in evaluation, decision-making and continuous improvement at higher education institutions. This study aims to analyse limitations in data capacity for internal quality assurance at higher education institutions in Central Vietnam. It uses directed content analysis of 38 accreditation resolutions, focusing on the component of “Data Analytics and Information Management”. The findings show that this component accounts for 775 out of 3,268 coded recommendation units. Within this component, “Data Collection and Analysis” accounts for 602 coded units, while “Quality Assurance Information Systems” accounts for 173 coded units. The main limitations are related to data collection, data analysis, quality assurance information systems and the use of data for quality improvement. These findings suggest that data capacity should be considered an important component in the development of internal quality assurance. Accordingly, higher education institutions need to standardise data, strengthen analytical capacity, improve quality assurance information systems and link data use with the continuous improvement cycle. The study also suggests an empirical approach to using accreditation resolutions as a data source for analysing the current state of internal quality assurance at higher education institutions.