ACCESS-QUALITY MODEL IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

The paper examines two (2) models for the relationship of Access to and Quality of Public Higher Education in the Philippines. The first model is the usual Feed Forward Quality Model where the inputs, processes, and outcomes of higher education are taken as sequential elements in the educative process. The second model is the Feedback Quality Model where the academic processes of an institution dictate the quality of inputs; further, the inputs go through the academic processes of the institution to produce a desired level of quality. Findings show that the Feedback Quality Model best fits the Philippine situation. The desired quality level is represented by the Philippine institutions which are highly competitive (selective admissionselective retention policies). Within this category, access is maximized by increasing retention rates through appropriate investments in the quality of the academic processes: faculty, facilities, curriculum, and student services. From the current state of Open Admission-Selective Retention of the public higher education institutions, the State needs to quadruple its investments on public higher education institutions if it wants to reach the ideal quality levels.