Title: Using QFD method for assessing higher education programs: an examination of key stakeholders' visions

Authors: Nizar Raissi

Addresses: Laboratory ARBRE (Applied Research in Business Relationships & Economics), University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia; College of Islamic Economics and Finance, Umm Al Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to identify which indicators are more suitable to measure professional skills and that ensure training conform to employer's requirements. The study relied on reflective evaluation of education quality in universities by employers, students and graduates with professional experience applying the technique of Quality Function Deployment (QFD). Therefore, the analysis of survey results founded on a sample of 31 companies, 717 students and 104 graduates reveals a strong correlation between achieving the objectives of operability, efficiency and integration of graduates and the commitment degree of universities to implement relevant and valid assessments that promote the development of skills needed by labour market. Moreover, employers believe that the skills assessed are not those required by the labour market. Results also show that graduates consider evaluation system as irrelevant because it is not objective and does not allow everyone to have the same chances of success.

Keywords: human resources; quality function deployment; training; higher education; labour market.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2018.088386

International Journal of Management in Education, 2018 Vol.12 No.1, pp.70 - 93

Received: 20 Oct 2016
Accepted: 16 Jun 2017
Published online: 05 Dec 2017 *

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