Mgaiwa, Samson John2019-11-272020-01-082019-11-272020-01-082014Mgaiwa, S. J (2014) Institutional constraints affecting quality assurance processes in Tanzania’s private Universities, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam.http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4541Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF LB2328.52T34M452)The study sought to find out whether the institutional quality assurance processes (self-assessments, external examinations, quality audits and tracer studies) were conducted. This study also was set to find out the institutional constraints affecting Quality Assurance (QA) processes in Tanzania’s Private Universities (PRUs) and whether there were strategies in place to address the constraints. A descriptive survey design that employed a mixed research approach was used in the study. Purposive, stratified and random sampling procedures were used to select a sample of 486 respondents from four private universities. Interviews, questionnaires and documentary review were used in data collection. The study findings revealed that some institutional quality assurance processes such as self-assessments and external examinations were conducted while others such as internal audits and tracer studies were, to a larger extent, not conducted. The study findings further revealed that inadequate financing, lack of capacity in terms of adequate qualified and experienced human resources, lack of clear and viable QA policies, lack of awareness on quality assurance issues and lack of academic leadership were major institutional constraints undermining quality assurance processes in some Tanzanian private universities. This notwithstanding, devoting more budgets for QA issues, regular training of academic staff on quality assurance issues, staff development, developing clear and viable departmental QA policies, undertaking SWOT analysis on QA processes and developing QA projects were indicated as strategies in place to address the existing institutional QA processes in Tanzania’s private universities. The study concluded that institutional QA in Tanzania’s private universities were not adequately conducted due to constraints affecting QA processes. The study recommends that PRUs should build financial and human capacities to be able to carry out QA processes effectively. Also the study recommended that TCU should establish QA systems that hold PRUs accountable to overcome the existing constraints in a bid to improve the quality of education offered in PRUs.enPrivate Universities and collegesQuality assuranceTanzaniaThesis