A phenomenographic study of students' conceptions of quality in learning in higher education in Rwanda

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the different ways that university students conceptualise quality in learning by drawing on a phenomenographic approach. A total of 20 students in higher education in Rwanda were interviewed and analysis of the interviews generated an outcome space of conceptions of quality in learning as transformation, practice, knowledge durability and employability. The findings illustrate the importance of the relationship between education and work as an important aspect of conceptions of quality in learning. This relationship connects to the discourse of employability in which graduates are expected to become flexible and adaptable to changes in context and over the course of time.

Keywords:

• quality in learning
• phenomenography
• higher education
• Rwanda

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge our fruitful collaboration over the years with Prof. Lars Owe Dahlgren, who most sadly passed away during the finalisation of this article. You will be greatly missed.