INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE EFFECTIVENESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: EVIDENCE FROM SOKOTO STATE UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA
Abstract
Despite decades of accreditation reforms in Nigeria’s higher education, quality assurance (QA) outcomes remain inconsistent across universities, and there is limited empirical evidence on whether management support or quality infrastructure should be prioritized to improve QA effectiveness under resource constraints. This study examined the effects of institutional support (management support and quality infrastructure), on quality assurance effectiveness in Sokoto State University (SSU), Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design method was employed, the population of the study consists of 341 academic staff of Sokoto State University; Simple Random sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for this study. Krejcie and Morgan table (1970) was utilized to determine the sample size for the study; the table recommended a minimum of 181 respondents, and 181 structured questionnaires built on a 5-point Likert scale were administered to improve representativeness. The primary data generated were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 26. The result of the regression analysis revealed that, management support, quality infrastructure each exert a positive and significant effect on quality assurance effectiveness in Sokoto State University. The study concludes that effective quality assurance is achieved through a combination of adequate institutional support and leadership practices that foster commitment, engagement, and continuous improvement. Therefore, because management support exerted the stronger effect on quality assurance effectiveness, universities should prioritise strengthening management commitment to quality assurance while concurrently investing in leadership development programmes that promote transformational leadership capabilities capable of translating institutional support into sustainable quality outcomes.