Evaluating the Impact of Institutional Accreditation on Armenian Universities: An AI-Assisted Text Analysis Approach

As Armenian HEIs enter the third cycle of institutional accreditation, assessing the tangible effects of past accreditation initiatives and planning future reform steps becomes essential. This study examines the impact of institutional accreditation on the ongoing development of universities, focusing on how accreditation has guided HEIs to demonstrate their successes based on their mission statements. The primary goal of accreditation has been to encourage HEIs to establish internal quality assurance systems and to cultivate a culture of quality. To impartially and comprehensively evaluate the impact of accreditation, we applied advanced text analysis techniques using artificial intelligence (AI). This AI-assisted approach allowed us to analyze diverse data sources, including expert reports and institutional self-evaluations. By examining the evolution of language in these reports over time, we aimed to understand how quality culture has developed and evolved within Armenian HEIs. Preliminary findings indicate that accreditation has significantly impacted multiple areas within Armenian HEIs, including autonomy, governance structures, resource allocation, academic programs, and internal quality assurance, while also strengthening quality culture. Additionally, accreditation has shaped the discourse on quality assurance in Armenian higher education.

This paper was presented at EQAF and reflects the views of the named authors only.

ISSN: 1375-3797

Evaluating the Impact of Institutional Accreditation on Armenian Universities: An AI-Assisted Text Analysis Approach

Ruben Topchyan, Varduhi Gyulazyan

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