The Quality Approach in University Institutions and Economic Growth

Abstract

The university quality approach has become a strategic lever for governance and competitiveness in knowledge-based economies. Far from being limited to an internal control mechanism, it constitutes a systemic process of continuous improvement that interlinks institutional performance, human capital development, and economic growth. This paper offers a theoretical and integrative analysis of this relationship by mobilizing a set of complementary conceptual frameworks derived from Human Capital Theory (Becker, 1964; Schultz, 1961), Endogenous Growth Theory (Romer, 1990; Lucas, 1988), Intellectual Capital Theory (Edvinsson & Malone, 1997), Social Capital Theory (Coleman, 1988; Putnam, 1995), the Knowledge Society paradigm (Drucker, 1993; OECD, 2000), and the Triple Helix Model (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000).

Drawing on a narrative literature review, this study proposes an integrative conceptual model in which the university quality approach influences institutional performance, which in turn enhances the development of qualified human capital an essential driver of economic growth. Three structuring levers emerge from this model: university industry cooperation, public policy and decision maker support, and the institutionalization of quality through the ISO 21001:2018 international standard. These dimensions highlight the importance of participatory, innovative, and value-oriented university governance.

The results of this theoretical reflection show that the university quality approach represents an integrated framework for management and collective learning, linking academic and organizational performance to national competitiveness. Theoretically, the paper enriches classical growth approaches by integrating the qualitative and institutional dimensions of higher education. Practically, it underscores the conditions required for successful educational governance based on quality, accountability, and innovation, positioning the university as a key actor in sustainable development and the knowledge economy.

Classification JEL : O10

Paper type : Theoretical Research