Autonomy and Accountability: A Logical Analysis of the Quality Assurance of Institutional Self-Assessment from the Perspective of Audit and Assessment

Abstract

The “Audit and Assessment” model establishes institutional self-assessment as the foundation for external evaluation, thereby reinforcing the principal responsibility of universities within the quality assurance system. The effectiveness of institutional self-assessment is closely related to the extent to which universities recognize and internalize their self-assessment responsibilities. Furthermore, universities’ identification with this principal responsibility and agency is inseparable from their understanding and grasp of “university autonomy” and “higher education accountability.” University autonomy provides a profound theoretical foundation for institutional self-assessment, while higher education accountability serves as its quality assurance. Striking a balance between “autonomy” and “accountability,” while achieving a profound grasp of their underlying philosophies, can provide a logical pathway for ensuring the quality of institutional self-assessment.