Perspectives of Doctoral Students on Quality in Turkish Higher Education: A Qualitative Study

Authors : Gökhan Savaş

Pages : 17-37

View : 24 | Download : 44

Publication Date : 2024-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aimed to examine the views of doctoral students on quality in Turkish higher education. In this qualitative study, the participants were doctoral students enrolled in the field of Educational Administration. Criterion sampling technique, one of the purposeful sampling methods, was employed in determining the participants. The research data were collected using semi-structured interview forms developed by the researcher based on the relevant literature and expert opinions. During the data collection process, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants. The data were analyzed using content and descriptive analysis methods. The findings indicated that doctoral students consider quality in higher education as a multidimensional concept involving various factors. They emphasized competent academic staff, suitable physical facilities, social opportunities, recognition, and educational quality as key attributes of a high-quality university. Furthermore, the study revealed that most of the participants were dissatisfied with the current state of higher education quality in Türkiye and some of them expressed pessimism about its future improvement. Additionally, they demonstrated limited awareness of quality-related studies in Turkish higher education.
Keywords : quality, higher education, quality in higher education