Conceptions of quality in learning, teaching and assessment in a Singapore polytechnic

This is an insider and mixed methods research study that focuses on the beliefs, perspectives, and values of senior management, teaching staff, students and alumni to illuminate key conceptions of quality in teaching, learning and assessment within a Singapore polytechnic. The study identifies five key conceptions of quality: what is important (to the polytechnic); preparing students for work; understanding concepts and deepening skills; setting standards and standardizing practice; and transforming students.
The research uncovers ten contextual factors, which are either internal or external to the polytechnic. The study explores the influence of these environmental and organizational conditions on conceptions of quality in the polytechnic, within a wider context of the performative culture within the polytechnic and the economistic perspective and market practices of education in Singapore. The succession of key school/ polytechnic leadership was a key contextual factor that influenced the revamp of a relatively stable Balanced Score Card in year 2019. This highlights the crucial role of school leadership along the journey of school or polytechnic improvement.
The study finds the two dominant conceptions of quality to be: what is important (to the polytechnic) and preparing students for work. These conceptions of quality are interrelated in terms of an emphasis of graduate employability. This finding is consistent with the economistic perspective of education in the polytechnic. The polytechnic tracks its graduate employability through the Balanced Score Card.
The study recommends that the polytechnic broadens its understanding of education and conceptions of quality beyond employability. The research recommends the polytechnic to look beyond the employability narrative and address social, personal and learning needs of students as lifelong learners. The conception of quality as transforming students has untapped and promising potential to facilitate this. Since the Government and employers are key stakeholders, strengthening the shared values between the polytechnic and its community (staff, students and parents) for sustainable quality improvement in the polytechnic is another possibility.