Evalauting the Performance by Using Balanced Scorecard and Quality Assurance (QA) Systems in Kurdistan Universities- A Comparitive Study

Abstract

The evaluation and continuous improvement of the quality of teaching and learning in higher education is an issue of sustained concern. The Quality Assurance (QA) system in Kurdistan is to ensure quality, continuous development and efficient performance of Kurdistan higher education institutions, and to gain the confidence of the community in universities graduates in accordance with internationally recognized evaluation mechanisms. The Kurdistan University has developed and implemented a university-wide system of quality assurance that ensures that each subject is systematically reviewed and enhanced by those teaching in the subject. While it incorporates compulsory student evaluation of teaching of each subject the result of this student evaluation is not the focus of the quality assurance system. Robert Kaplan and David Norton (1992) present the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is widely used method to improve on an organizations performance and most of the profit making organizations and few nonprofit organizations were applied this method to evaluate performance. The application of Balanced Scorecard to Kurdistan University is a new concept. The purpose of this study is to compare the QA system and Balanced Scorecard with the performance evaluation in Kurdistan context (focus to Management Faculties in Kurdistan Universities). The questionnaire was used to collect data from the Management Faculties connecting to the BSC system and the QA data published by the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council (QAA) in Kurdistan. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings focus to enhance learning and growth activities in the entire Management Faculties in Kurdistan Universities and Curriculum Design - Content and Review, Postgraduate Studies, Skills Development in the process of the QA system.