Quality Assurance in Military Higher Education Institutions: Worldwide Patterns and Trends

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This article explores the multifaceted landscape of quality assurance practices employed by military higher education institutions worldwide to identify common features and demonstrate diversity. The findings reveal that internal quality assurance in military higher education institutions typically aligns with national academic requirements, influenced by the political system and participation in regional political associations. Most countries follow a three-level model of quality assurance, encompassing internal procedures, external evaluation by independent or government-controlled agencies, and the quality assurance of accreditation bodies. Despite initial resistance due to corporate culture, the institutionalization of internal quality assurance systems in military higher education institutions is advancing, driven by external pressures. Challenges in external evaluations of military entities based on civilian university criteria arise from differences in human resource policies, management systems, and the organization of educational processes. The application of academic quality assurance standards (national or regional) by military higher education institutions promotes their integration into national (or sub-regional) higher education frameworks but does little to advance defense institution-building. To address these challenges, the study suggests developing specialized quality standards for military education institutions, considering their unique management characteristics and contributions to national security and defense. Such standards, whether national or international, should complement existing frameworks and facilitate the integration of military education into broader security initiatives.