From Compliance to Continuous Improvement: A Systematic Review of Drivers of Quality Assurance Culture in Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Quality assurance (QA) has become a central concern in higher education institutions (HEIs) due to increasing demands for accountability, international competitiveness, stakeholder satisfaction, and improvement of teaching, learning, research, and community engagement. Although universities have established formal quality assurance frameworks, the effectiveness of these systems largely depends on institutional culture, which shapes behaviours, values, attitudes, and commitment toward quality improvement. This systematic empirical review paper examines the role of institutional culture in driving quality assurance practices in higher education institutions. Specifically, the paper explores how institutional and leadership culture influences QA implementation, assesses the contribution of communication and teamwork culture to QA effectiveness, and evaluates the role of accountability and continuous improvement culture in strengthening quality practices. The study reviews and analyses recent published studies. The findings indicate that leadership commitment, participatory communication, collaborative teamwork, accountability mechanisms, and continuous improvement orientations are essential elements for developing a sustainable quality culture in universities. The paper concludes that quality assurance should not be viewed only as a compliance requirement but as an institutional culture embedded in daily academic and administrative practices.