Staff audit as an external quality measure: Possible influencing factors and effects from the perception of academics

This exploratory inquiry examined how a recent national external staff audit carried out on behalf of the Ghanaian government is perceived by the teaching staff of Ghanaian Technical Universities (TUs); particularly, in terms of the assessors, the assessment processes, and the effects on the TUs and the individual staff within them. The population for the study was all the teaching staff of the TUs. However, a total number of 212 teaching staff from seven out of the eight TUs in the country were selected to answer the semi-structured questionnaire using simple stratified random sampling techniques. The quantitative data was evaluated using descriptive statistics and factor analysis while the qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The quantitative and qualitative results were then triangulated at the discussion section. The main highpoints of the study were that the assessors were definitely not from the (sister) TUs and that their neutrality and training could not be guaranteed. Of course, the audit led to a new sense of concern for enhancing teaching, learning, research; and an increase in the number of policies, higher qualifications and promotions. Nevertheless, it impacted negatively on the health, job satisfaction and social life of individual staff. For policy makers and practitioners, the importance of extensive consultations with stakeholders for instance, in the selection of assessors, standards and the realism of an appropriate level of compliance is suggested.