Towards Improving Quality in 'Dependent' Institutions in a Developing Context

The focus of this paper is improving quality in dependent institutions in developing contexts. In developing this theme the recent and proposed developments in the system of affiliation established by the University of Botswana are used as a case study. The provenance and operational milieu of this system are described and a rationale is offered why greater emphasis should be placed on quality assurance and why the system should move towards emphasis on institutional development, programme review and quality assurance. Consideration is then given to selected examples of other 'models' of affiliation and accreditation and features that could be relevant to the Botswana context of these are identified. The preceding discussion is then used as a basis for developing a synthetic model that could be used in Botswana and the principal features of this model are assessed. Emphasis is placed on the fact that what is being developed is not radical and is grounded in and developed from current and recent practice. Attention is then given to the appropriateness of this model to other 'developing' countries, especially small ones. In concluding, emphasis is placed on the importance of basing any system of affiliation firmly in the context in which it is located.